Interested in giving probiotics a try? We’re happy you’re here. To prevent you from having to Google 30 different questions, we decided to gather the top probiotic questions and discuss them all here!
We want to just preface this by saying that you should always check with your doctor before starting any new supplements or medications. You know your situation and history best and can work with your doc to make sure you’re getting the best product for you!
Feel free to ask your doctor these same questions!
Let’s start with the basics.
Should you take probiotics every day?
There will always be exceptions, but in general, the answer is yes, it’s safe, and often recommended to take probiotics daily. Probiotics are a natural supplement (not a medicine) and they are best used as part of your healthy daily routine.
What happens if you take probiotics every day?
Probiotics are the good guys. When you provide your body with “good bacteria” daily, you might find a little boost in your immune system and better digestion.*
Is long-term probiotic use safe?
Probiotics have a great long-term use track record. Any risk would be higher in severely ill, or high-risk individuals such as premature infants or immunocompromised individuals. In these cases, a doctor should definitely be a part of the discussion before using ANY new supplements or medications.
How long should you take probiotics?
Daily! If you want the probiotic benefits to last, you’ll want to continue taking them daily. Your gut bacteria are likely to return to their pre-supplementation condition if you stop taking them. It only takes 1-3 weeks for that to happen! Probiotics are living bacteria and once you stop taking them, they die off and you stop seeing the benefit of them.
Should you take a break from probiotics?
f you want to take a small break here or there, it’s totally safe to do so. Just know that the longer you stay off, the more likely that your gut bacteria will return to its pre-supplementation condition.
Who should not take probiotics?
Infants, Toddlers, Teens and Adults all benefit from taking probiotics regularly. In fact 15-30% of Americans struggle with regular constipation! As we get older, the problem actually becomes worse. One way to prevent this is by taking a probiotic regularly.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you should be taking or giving a probiotic:
Are you struggling with regular bowel movements? Do you have consistent stomach pains? Is your child constipated regularly? Are you getting sick far too often? Are you gaining weight? Do you have less energy than normal?
These are indicators that your gut biome is out of whack and you should be taking a probiotic.
We’ll give you a simple breakdown in the meantime. Probiotics are not recommended for those with serious medical conditions (immunosuppressed, pancreatitis, and more), but that is simply based on the limited research available.
When it comes to probiotics, there are currently no known contraindications (a situation or medical condition in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should NOT be used because it may be harmful to the patient) with medical drugs or supplements but there are a few things to consider. If you are taking any of the following: antibiotics, antifungal, or immunosuppressant medication, you should speak with your doctor before taking probiotics.
Do you need prebiotics if you take probiotics?
Yes! Probiotics are amazing but prebiotics help probiotics do their job by keeping the probiotic alive until it gets to your gut. Refer to the next question for more information.
What’s the difference between Prebiotics and Probiotics?
Probiotics do all the hard work of restoring the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics have been shown to boost the vitality and survivability of probiotics in the gut to enhance their overall effectiveness.*
Are probiotics good for kids?
Yes! You’ll want to find a kid-friendly probiotic, but kids (like everyone else) can benefit from some good bacteria. We discuss gut health and kids in detail in our blog post titled, Gut Health and Kids.
What are good probiotic foods?
Want some good gut foods? Try yogurt, oatmeal, onions, garlic, berries, grapes, dark chocolate, and other fermented foods (like kimchi, sourdough bread, pickles, sauerkraut, etc.)!
Wink Well Pre & Pro Biotic Melts
We had all the same questions that you have, so we decided to create our own Pre & Pro Biotic.
So, the next few questions are specifically about our own product, which we tend to call Biotic (since it contains both pre & pro in one tablet!).
How do the Biotics work?
Our Biotics are made from a live strain of bacteria and are meant to be taken on a daily basis. Biotics work to promote gut health, restore the balance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract, improve digestion, promote regularity, combat symptoms of constipation and bloating, provide immune system support, and have even been shown to reduce crying time in infants.*
Can I use the Biotic while pregnant/nursing?
Always check with your doctor first before starting any new supplements or medications when pregnant or nursing. All Wink Well products are made from natural, non-toxic ingredients, are drug-free and safe.*
What strain of biotics do you use and how many CFU’s are included?
For our probiotics, we use a coated Probiotic Complex (Bifidobacterium Breve BRO3 ‘microbac’ and Lactobacillus Plantarum LP01 ‘microbac’) with 2 Billion CFU. The Prebiotic Blend includes natural apple pectin and Larch Arabinogalactans.
What does CFU mean and how many are in our formula?
CFU stands for Colony Forming Unit and indicates the number of viable bacteria in a sample. CFU count is not standardized, some strains require higher CFU’s and others require less. The clinical data showed that at 2 Billion CFU, the strains in our formula are effective at providing the health benefits we were testing for and trying to achieve. Also, for children’s probiotics, ½ billion-4 billion is a common dosage.*
What makes Wink Well Biotic different than others on the market?
Our Pre & Pro Biotic is made for all ages, including babies, children, and adults, and takes into account taste profile, form factor, and convenience. Our formula combines the two critical components to a healthy gut in a single serving: Prebiotics and Probiotics and is deliverable in a naturally sweetened quick-dissolving tablet. One Biotic for the whole family!
Do Wink Well Biotics need to be kept in the fridge?
Nope! Our dissolvable tablets are coated in a special vegetable-based oil that ensures survival and potency of the delicate strains during manufacturing as well as through the intestinal tract.*
What about shipping to hot and humid areas, will it kill the bacterias?
Prolonged exposure to intense heat is to be avoided but rest assured that normal shipping methods are perfectly fine. Just to be safe we’ve included an overage on the CFU count to account for any loss due to shelf life, exposure, etc.
Is it ok to crush the Biotic Melts and put the powder into something like oatmeal to eat?
The strains are encapsulated in vegetable oil that helps preserve them until they get to the gut, including the “first pass” in the mouth. They can be added to food, but be aware that when crushed, you do run the risk of the strains or the protective encapsulation being damaged.
So, really what are the benefits of probiotics?
Our gut bacteria is affected by diet, lifestyle, sleep quality, alcohol consumption, inactivity, and more.
Nobody lives a perfect life. We will all need to take medications once in a while. We might enjoy junk food now and then. And those things will impact our gut health.
Finding a good probiotic can:
- Promote regular bowel habits*
- Reduce irritation in the entire GI tract*
- Promote immune system support*
- Alleviate constipation and bloating*
Add on prebiotic benefits:
- Boosts the effectiveness of probiotics*
- Improves digestion and gut health*
And you have some gut health power.
Have any more questions? Let us know in the comments.
We make an amazing probiotic and we have thousands of happy customers who use it daily. Feel free to read reviews from real people by checking out our 90-Count Biotics bottle . It's the best value for you and your family too!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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