How to tell and speed through it comfortably.
You’re taking probiotics, and it seems like they’re making you feel worse.
But you were having gut problems before, and that’s why you started taking the probiotics. So maybe it’s just a flare up? Or maybe you ate something that triggered more discomfort? But the timing… what if it is the probiotics?
If this came on suddenly and dramatically, what you are experiencing is probably being caused by pathogens dying off. Which is great news because that’s a sure sign that your probiotics are working exactly the way you want them to! Because fewer pathogens in your system means you’ll be healthier and happier every day.
Even though die-off is a good sign, going through it can feel awful… but not if you handle it the right way. You can speed through this temporary issue with minor discomfort—or maybe no discomfort at all—with a few simple tricks.
How to Tell If It’s Die-Off
Die-off side effects are easy to mistake for other issues, but there is a way to tell the difference. The most common issues associated with die-off include:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Nausea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Fatigue or brain fog
- Irritability or mood swings
- Headaches
- Skin rashes
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A lot of those feelings could be what led you to take probiotics in the first place. And you’d thought they’d go away, but now you suddenly feel dramatically worse.
That’s the key—suddenly and dramatically. Die-off can come on hard and fast. And usually there’s been some kind of change like starting a probiotic, switching probiotic brands, adding in prebiotics, taking antibiotics, or experiencing something that altered your gut microbiome (the trillions of bacteria in your gut).
So while die-off often hits when you’ve just started a new probiotic regimen, it can happen at any time.
And while it sounds awful… and temporarily feels awful… die-off is actually a very good thing.
Die-Off Is a Positive Sign
Your gut microbiome contains trillions of bacteria, good and bad. In a healthy gut microbiome, beneficial probiotic bacteria greatly outnumber harmful pathogens… but there are still pathogens hanging around all the time. The probiotic bacteria can keep those pathogen populations down most of the time. But sometimes, the pathogens start to take over, growing until they outnumber the probiotics, contributing to all kinds of health problems.[1]
Getting your gut microbiome into a healthy balance involves maximizing probiotics and minimizing pathogens. And die-off is a crucial part of detoxing and balancing your gut. Your microbiome needs space for a diverse population of beneficial probiotic bacteria… and it can only make space by killing harmful pathogens.
And those pathogens won’t go quietly. As they die off, they release all sorts of harmful and toxic substances.[2] So when you’ve taken a step to foster good gut health, like by taking probiotics, billions of pathogens can die at the same time. That’s a huge toxic overload to your system, and it sets off an immune response, causing the spike in the issues mentioned above.
That frustrating, uncomfortable increase in discomfort means your probiotic is working extra hard to get those nasty pathogens under control.
And that’s why you absolutely, 100%, do not want to stop taking them.
But there is a way to have great gut health without getting clobbered by die-off symptoms.
Don’t Stop… Slow Down
When you’re dealing with die-off your instincts might tell you to stop taking the probiotic. That’s not your best option though!
The pathogens are dying off, and you don’t want to give them a chance to adapt and gain a foothold.
The best option: Slow down. This will help mitigate the severity of your reaction so you feel better without losing the momentum. You’ll still be balancing your gut microbiome and promoting beneficial probiotic bacteria. You’ll still be helping your body get rid of harmful substances. You’ll just be doing it at a pace that is easier for your body to handle.
So how do you slow down? Lower your dose.
For two weeks, take just a half capsule of your probiotic daily. It’s best to take this with your largest meal of the day, but it will still work if another time is more convenient for you. You can open up the capsule and mix half of the contents into your food or beverage and save the remaining contents for your next dose.
If your experience is more severe, you can lower the dose further by taking a half capsule every other day or even a quarter of a capsule. Listen to and observe your body, and you’ll do just fine. If your issues decrease or disappear, you can work your way back up to one capsule daily.
Longer or More Severe Die-Off Reactions
In some more difficult cases, die-off can last for weeks or even months. We must stress that this is NOT typical for most people, but there are some underlying reasons why it could occur.
A prolonged or severe die-off reaction can indicate that something is interfering with the process, such as an under- or over-reactive immune system or a problem in your body’s detox pathways.
Certain foods, medications (including over-the-counter drugs), and personal care products can affect how well your body clears pathogens and toxins. So if your die-off symptoms seem to be lasting extra long, it can be helpful to give your body extra support during that time. This could include removing sugar and processed foods from your diet, avoiding alcohol, and trying to limit your exposure to toxins.
Using a product like Just Thrive Probiotic Gummies can be helpful in these extreme cases as well. They are already a lower dose than the capsules, plus they’re easy to divide, making it easier for you to lower your dose consistently and confidently. Start with 1/4 gummy, then slowly work up to 1/2, and finally up to the full dose.
Speeding Up the Die-off Process
During die-off, your immune system will be fully engaged trying to deal with the pathogens and the toxins that have been released. You can help your immune system power through with fresh supplies of immunoglobulins, the cells that take on all the bacteria and their by-products.
Immunoglobulins, or IgG antibodies, are your body’s first-line soldiers. They detect and protect you against all sorts of threats, including a variety of pathogens—dead or alive—and toxins.[3] IgG antibodies neutralize and eliminate unfavorable microbes including bacteria and toxins,[4,5] and they also mop up all of the unwanted toxic by-products to help detoxify your body.
But when you’re dealing with die-off, your immune system might need extra support—especially when it comes to plentiful supplies of IgG antibodies. That’s where serum-derived bovine immunoglobulins can come to the rescue.[6]
These supplemental IgG antibodies assist the home team with their cleaning up and clearing out tasks, speeding up the die-off process. Research shows that serum-derived bovine immunoglobulins also support healthy microbiome balance and diverse probiotic populations, a huge advantage for lasting gut health and comfort.[7]
Just Thrive Gut Health Products
Keep Your Gut Comfortable with Probiotics & IgG
When your gut is calm and comfortable, you just feel better. That depends on keeping your gut microbiome in healthy balance… and that calls for some specialized support. And you can count on the Ultimate Immunity Bundle for that.
The Ultimate Immunity Bundle includes:
Just Thrive Probiotic, which contains four clinically studied spore probiotics known to support a healthy, balanced gut microbiome full of a diverse population of beneficial bacteria.
Ultimate IgG, which delivers a fresh supply of proven serum-derived bovine immunoglobulins every day. Those extra antibodies provide backup for your immune system to help keep your gut healthy and comfortable.
>> Give your gut the TLC it deserves with the Ultimate Immunity Bundle.
Still on the fence? 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 the Ultimate Immunity Bundle to see how effectively it supports your gut health… and we’re betting that you’ll notice how comfortable you feel.
But if for any reason you don’t notice a difference, you can ask for a full product refund at any time. Even if it’s 3 months or 3 years later. Even if the bottle is empty! You’ll get your money back any time, no matter what.
- DeGruttola AK, Low D, Mizoguchi A, Mizoguchi E. Current Understanding of Dysbiosis in Disease in Human and Animal Models. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016 May;22(5):1137-50. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000000750. PMID: 27070911; PMCID: PMC4838534.
- Sheehan JR, Sadlier C, O'Brien B. Bacterial endotoxins and exotoxins in intensive care medicine. BJA Educ. 2022 Jun;22(6):224-230. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2022.01.003. Epub 2022 Mar 12. PMID: 35614909; PMCID: PMC9125418.
- Champion K, Chiu L, Ferbas J, Pepe M. Endotoxin neutralization as a biomonitor for inflammatory bowel disease. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 24;8(6):e67736. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067736. PMID: 23826338; PMCID: PMC3691319.
- Janeway CA Jr, Travers P, Walport M, et al. Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease. 5th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2001. The distribution and functions of immunoglobulin isotypes. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27162/
- Utay NS, Asmuth DM, Gharakhanian S, Contreras M, Warner CD, Detzel CJ. Potential use of serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate for the management of COVID-19. Drug Dev Res. 2021 Nov;82(7):873-879. doi: 10.1002/ddr.21841. Epub 2021 Jun 10. PMID: 34110032; PMCID: PMC9293029.
- Petschow BW, Burnett B, Shaw AL, Weaver EM, Klein GL. Serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate: postulated mechanism of action for management of enteropathy. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2014 May 24;7:181-90. doi: 10.2147/CEG.S62823. PMID: 24904221; PMCID: PMC4041178.
- Van den Abbeele P, Detzel C, Rose A, Deyaert S, Baudot A, Warner C. Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin Stimulates SCFA Production by Specific Microbes in the Ex Vivo SIFR® Technology. Microorganisms. 2023 Mar 4;11(3):659. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11030659. PMID: 36985232; PMCID: PMC10053870.
