Probiotics are live bacteria with the intention of helping repopulate lost beneficial bacteria or rebalance an ecosystem that may have too much of unfavorable bacteria. These types of supplements are meant to be used temporarily as we try and fix the underlying issues because probiotics in themselves will not have a lasting effect (no longer than 2 weeks or less). This means that in order to reap the benefits of a probiotic, one must continue to supplement OR fix the actual problem
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Now, before we get into anything deeper, let’s ask ourselves WHY we would think we need to take probiotics:
1️⃣ Usage of antibiotics
2️⃣We’re dealing with gut issues like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, IBD, Crohn’s, etc.
3️⃣Our immune system is low
4️⃣Struggling with mental health issues
Okay, so we have reasons to wanting to alter our microbiome because we are struggling with symptoms that could possibly be linked to dysbiosis.
However, did you ever ask yourself HOW YOU EVEN GOT THERE?
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I say this time and time again, you are only susceptible to things if your metabolism breaks down.
Your body doesn’t do things for nothing- everything happens for a reason, and it is up to YOU to figure it out alone or with the help of your practitioner.
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That being said, YES, probiotics can be extremely beneficial for people who need microbiome support, but you should NOT be taking them every single day for the rest of your life.
Why?
Because just like how we sometimes need to repopulate a gut after antibiotics, we can have the tendency to OVER populate- especially if our metabolism is slow and bacteria end up in the small intestine which THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE. This can lead to things like SIBO or other overgrowths.
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In addition, some research shows probiotics can cause our gut to produce a type of lactic acid called D-lactate that can cause brain fog, bloating, gas, and signs of intoxication. Most of these symptoms would appear if someone has slow motility, which is usually caused by a metabolic issue- and funnily enough, people start taking probiotics for the very reason of suffering with something that is LINKED to metabolic dysfunction.
See the connection?

IF YOU NEED PROBIOTICS, WHICH ONES ARE BEST?
I get this question ALL the time, and my answer is ALWAYS: IT DEPENDS
Every strain of bacteria that we have inside of us has a specific role to play, meaning whatever your particular issue is will depend on what bacteria you particularly need.
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However, there are types of probiotics that act differently on the system, and this, in turn, can also sway you to pick a particular supplement.
There are 2 types of probiotics out in the market: Spored Based Probiotics and Non-Spore Based Probiotics
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Spore based are spore forming bacteria that are actually found in soil. They can sometimes be confused for soil based bacteria, but they’re actually soil-based organisms. Most spores live in the soil by breaking down plant matter, decaying matter, and recycle things like minerals and carbon atoms. Interestingly enough, they are ‘dormant’ so to speak until they are swallowed by an animal, aka us, and will then react in reconditioning the gut. Soil based, on the other hand, have been shown to do very little, if anything, to the microbiome
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Technically, if we weren’t living in today’s overly sterile and processed world, we would STILL be getting our daily dose of spore based bacteria, but because we spray fertilizers on every food, we don’t eat dirt (literally) and process our food differently, we lack these particular microorganisms that have been shown to contribute to robust immune health, digestion, and proper metabolic function
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Unlike “regular” probiotics, spore based bacteria recondition the gut in particular ways, such as having a natural ability to help us produce our own enzymes, secretory proteins, particular vitamins (like B12 and K), carotenoids, and even act as natural antimicrobial compounds in our system. Conventional probiotics tend to NOT survive our gastric system due to our stomach acid’s low pH levels, where as spore based can.
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In addition, spore based bacteria usually don’t need a high CFU count (colony forming units) because you wouldn’t need to account for what would be destroyed before the bacteria reach the colon
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Question now is, when is the appropriate time to use which one?
Again, it depends on your situation, but if you are someone who has a specific issue and requires the support of very specific strains, then yes, maybe a regular probiotic with selective strains can be helpful!
However, taking a spore based probiotic to help with the repopulation and reconditioning of the gut would be my first choice!
Looking for a good one? I choose @microbiomelabs Megaspore! If you’re interested in ordering, send me a message to give it a try!