Debunking probiotic myths to give you all the facts
A lot of people have questions about probiotics… and a lot of the information floating around the web is just wrong.
What they do get right is that taking probiotics can benefit your overall health, from immunity to sleep to weight management.
We’ll take a look at some common myths and get to the truth, so you can get the most out of your probiotics.
5 Probiotic Myths Debunked
Let's sort out the misconceptions from the facts! Here are the 5 most common myths and questions we see all the time about probiotics.
1. Can you overdose on probiotics?
No, you can’t overdose on probiotics. These beneficial bacteria have been studied extensively for safety and effectiveness for decades… even at what would be considered mega-high doses.[1,2]
Supplements typically contain billions of probiotics. Your gut microbiome contains trillions of bacteria.[3] So even if you accidentally took extra probiotic capsules, it would still represent only a small portion of the total bacteria in your system. If you take too high of a dose than what your body is used to, you might experience some stomach upset like gas and bloating (a common die-off reaction), but you can’t actually overdose on probiotics.
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2. Do you need to switch up probiotic strains so they don’t become ineffective?
No, you don’t need to change up your probiotic strains. However it is important you are taking the right strains—specifically, spore-based probiotics—to truly see a difference in your health.
These probiotics work by adding beneficial bacteria to your gut microbiome, which helps to crowd out pathogens and support the strains that naturally live in your gut. The probiotic strains inside the capsules aren’t generally the same as the native strains in your gut,[4] but the probiotics you take do play a very important role in helping those native bacteria grow and flourish.
When you take spore probiotics, you can take the same probiotic supplement for years, and it will work as effectively as it did in the beginning. But this is not true for the majority of other probiotics, which probably explains how this myth got started.
3. A probiotic made me feel worse so does that mean it isn’t working?
No, experiencing symptoms like gas, bloating, and diarrhea can actually indicate that your probiotic is working!
Your symptoms are probably being caused by pathogens as they die off. That’s a sure sign that your probiotics are working exactly the way you want them to. Reducing pathogenic populations is part of their job, clearing space for more native beneficial bacteria to multiply. So while the die-off process can feel not so great—temporarily—it’s actually a good thing.
That doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. You can keep making forward progress and minimize die-off symptoms by lowering your dose. Then gradually work back up to the full dose as the die-off symptoms fade away.
Using a product like Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies can be helpful in these extreme cases. They’re easy to divide, making it easier for you to lower your dose consistently and confidently. Plus they’re already a lower dose than the probiotic capsules. You can start with 1/4 gummy, then move up to 1/2, and finally take the full dose.
4. Should I stop taking probiotics when I’m on antibiotics?
No, it’s extra important to take probiotics when you’re on a course of antibiotics.
Antibiotics kill off both harmful pathogens and beneficial probiotic bacteria. That leaves your gut microbiome more vulnerable to an imbalance called dysbiosis, where pathogens begin to outnumber probiotic bacteria. And antibiotic-induced dysbiosis can lead to significant health issues if it’s not dealt with quickly.[5,6,7]
Taking probiotics can help offset the negative effects of antibiotics without reducing their effectiveness against pathogens.[8] You can take probiotics throughout your entire course of antibiotics. Some special spore probiotic strains, like Bacillus clausii, work particularly well in this situation. In fact, Bacillus clausii resists even the use of multiple antibiotics to help safeguard against antibiotic-associated diarrhea.[9]
5. Do probiotics only affect my gut health?
No, probiotics have whole-body health benefits… though those do start in your gut. That’s because your gut microbiome is your body’s wellness center. Up to 80% of your immune cells are in your gut.[10] And that’s just the starting point for probiotic advantages.
Research shows that probiotics can have a positive effect on:
- Heart health[11]
- Liver health[12]
- Blood pressure[13]
- Blood sugar[14]
- Mood[15]
- Joint comfort[16]
- Attention and focus[17]
Bottom line: Taking probiotics is one of the best things you can do to keep yourself healthy. That’s a fact.
Just Thrive Gut Health Products
Feel Your Best with Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies
You want to do what’s best for your health, and taking a daily probiotic can get you there. With all of the myths and mistakes out there, you need a probiotic you know you can trust. Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies deliver consistent probiotic power in a delicious fruity form.
Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies can help keep your gut stocked with flourishing beneficial bacteria. They contain four clinically studied spore probiotics:
- Bacillus indicus HU36™
- Bacillus subtilis HU58™
- Bacillus coagulans (SC-208)
- Bacillus clausii (SC-109)
You can count on every dose of Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies to help keep you and your gut healthy. (Prefer capsules instead? Then these are for you!)
>> Start your wellness journey today with oh-so-yummy Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies.
And if you’re feeling unsure about trying Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies, we can help with that.
EVERY Just Thrive purchase is covered by our Bottom of the Bottle, 100% money back guarantee.
So you can try Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies to see if they work for you… and we’re confident they will.
But if for any reason you don’t feel a difference, simply ask for a full product refund. Any time. Even if it’s been 2 months or 2 years. Even if the bottle is empty! You’ll get your money back any time, no matter what.
Sources
- Doron S, Snydman DR. Risk and safety of probiotics. Clin Infect Dis. 2015 May 15;60 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S129-34.
- Gionchetti P, et al. High-dose probiotics for the treatment of active pouchitis. Dis Colon Rectum. 2007 Dec;50(12):2075-82; discussion 2082-4.
- FAQ: Human Microbiome. Washington (DC): American Society for Microbiology; 2013. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562894/ doi: 10.1128/AAMCol.1-2013
- Piquer-Esteban S, Ruiz-Ruiz S, Arnau V, Diaz W, Moya A. Exploring the universal healthy human gut microbiota around the World. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2021 Dec 30;20:421-433. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.035. PMID: 35035791; PMCID: PMC8749183.
- Dahiya D, Nigam PS. Antibiotic-Therapy-Induced Gut Dysbiosis Affecting Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis and Cognition: Restoration by Intake of Probiotics and Synbiotics. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 4;24(4):3074. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043074. PMID: 36834485; PMCID: PMC9959899.
- Kesavelu D, Jog P. Current understanding of antibiotic-associated dysbiosis and approaches for its management. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2023 Feb 24;10:20499361231154443. doi: 10.1177/20499361231154443. PMID: 36860273; PMCID: PMC9969474.
- Wilkins LJ, Monga M, Miller AW. Defining Dysbiosis for a Cluster of Chronic Diseases. Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 9;9(1):12918. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49452-y. PMID: 31501492; PMCID: PMC6733864.
- Rodgers B, Kirley K, Mounsey A. PURLs: prescribing an antibiotic? Pair it with probiotics. J Fam Pract. 2013 Mar;62(3):148-50. PMID: 23520586; PMCID: PMC3601687.
- De Castro, JA., Kesavelu, D., Lahiri, K.R. et al. Recommendations for the adjuvant use of the poly-antibiotic–resistant probiotic Bacillus clausii (O/C, SIN, N/R, T) in acute, chronic, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: consensus from Asian experts. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines 6, 21 (2020).
- Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ. The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 9;13(3):886. doi: 10.3390/nu13030886. PMID: 33803407; PMCID: PMC8001875.
- Saini R, Saini S, Sharma S. Potential of probiotics in controlling cardiovascular diseases. J Cardiovasc Dis Res. 2010 Oct;1(4):213-4. doi: 10.4103/0975-3583.74267. PMID: 21264188; PMCID: PMC3023901.
- Zhou X, Wang J, Zhou S, Liao J, Ye Z, Mao L. Efficacy of probiotics on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Jan 27;102(4):e32734. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000032734. PMID: 36705359; PMCID: PMC9875992.
- Qi D, Nie XL, Zhang JJ. The effect of probiotics supplementation on blood pressure: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Lipids Health Dis. 2020 Apr 25;19(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12944-020-01259-x. PMID: 32334580; PMCID: PMC7183137.
- Kocsis T, Molnár B, Németh D, Hegyi P, Szakács Z, Bálint A, Garami A, Soós A, Márta K, Solymár M. Probiotics have beneficial metabolic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 16;10(1):11787. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68440-1. PMID: 32678128; PMCID: PMC7366719.
- Jach ME, Serefko A, Szopa A, Sajnaga E, Golczyk H, Santos LS, Borowicz-Reutt K, Sieniawska E. The Role of Probiotics and Their Metabolites in the Treatment of Depression. Molecules. 2023 Apr 4;28(7):3213. doi: 10.3390/molecules28073213. PMID: 37049975; PMCID: PMC10096791.
- Bungau SG, Behl T, Singh A, Sehgal A, Singh S, Chigurupati S, Vijayabalan S, Das S, Palanimuthu VR. Targeting Probiotics in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 26;13(10):3376. doi: 10.3390/nu13103376. PMID: 34684377; PMCID: PMC8539185.
- Nahidi M, Soleimanpour S, Emadzadeh M. Probiotics as a Promising Therapy in Improvement of Symptoms in Children With ADHD: A Systematic Review. J Atten Disord. 2024 Feb 18:10870547241228828. doi: 10.1177/10870547241228828. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38369739.
