{"id":6467,"date":"2019-05-20T15:40:37","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T19:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/?p=6467"},"modified":"2023-10-12T17:15:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T21:15:04","slug":"will-taking-probiotics-make-you-poop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/will-taking-probiotics-make-you-poop\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Taking Probiotics Make You Poop?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Will taking probiotics really make me poop?<\/a><\/h2>\n

The majority of scientific research \u2013 Harvard, Oxford, (and a quick google search) \u2013 will all give you a general \u201cyes.\u201d Incorporating probiotics into your diet will likely have an effect on stool frequency and consistency.<\/p>\n

But before we can explore the gritty details, we\u2019ll all need to stop snickering and take a moment to understand what probiotics are, why they\u2019re of interest, what the potential side effects are, how to safely consume them, and what they\u2019re doing to our bodies.<\/p>\n

After that, you can let the puns fly.<\/p>\n

What Are Probiotics?<\/h3>\n

The World Health Organization described probiotics as \u201clive microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our current understanding of probiotics began bubbling in the late 1800s thanks to the observations of Russian born biologist \u00c9lie Metchnikoff<\/a>. Metchnikoff knew what yogurt and fermented dairy were. They had been discovered much earlier. But in studying the Bulgarian people and their diet, which was rich in yogurt and fermented milk products, Metchnikoff believed their longer than average life spans were the net result of the probiotics in their yogurt, which caused the Bulgarians to live longer despite the harsh climate and rampant poverty (3).<\/p>\n

Basically, Metchnikoff surmised that not all bacteria was bad, and he was right (3). Probiotics are considered \u201cgood bacteria\u201d and are living microorganisms found in some yogurts, cheeses, and other fermented products such as lactobacillus milk, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha.<\/p>\n

Jump forward and today the two most recognized and studied examples of \u201cgood bacteria\u201d are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium (2). Both are consumed for their health benefits and ability to produce lactic acid, which helps prevent bad bacteria from colonizing in the intestines (3).<\/p>\n

As far as poop goes, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium work to maintain intestine and colon health by breaking down food and absorbing nutrients in addition to fighting off \u201cmalicious\u201d organisms whose presence often precedes illnesses like diarrhea (2).<\/p>\n

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can also be handy in managing:<\/p>\n