Can Probiotics Cause Indigestion? (LEARN WHY)

Your food may not digest properly for many reasons. For one, an imbalance in your gut bacteria microbiome interferes with the digestive process. When this happens, you will start feeling the unpleasant symptoms of indigestion.

Other digestive problems such as gas, bloating, nausea, and constipation may also follow.

When you first start using probiotics, you may notice an imbalance in your gut microbiota.

When you begin taking a probiotic supplement, it can take your body some time to adjust and get used to the new bacteria in its digestive tract. This may cause temporary stomach discomfort or indigestion while your body adjusts. 

Eventually, the right probiotics can alleviate indigestion and other digestive issues once you understand how these probiotic organisms affect your body. This article will explain the link between digestion issues and probiotics, as well as tips for avoiding or overcoming them.

Can Too Much Probiotic Cause Indigestion?

Balance is at the forefront of gut health and digestion conversation. It is important to find the right balance of good bacteria in your gut and make sure that you are not taking too many probiotics at once. Too many can cause gastrointestinal issues, including indigestion.

Most people who experience indigestion from probiotics are taking too much of them, not the right kind, or both. If you’re supplementing with probiotics for gut health and digestive issues, take a high-quality probiotic that an independent lab has tested.

The human body is a complex system of biological processes. It takes time to get used to all the new bacteria introduced into your digestive tract by probiotics. 

You may experience temporary stomach discomfort as your body adjusts, but this typically subsides within two weeks of starting a probiotic supplement. To combat indigestion, seek a balance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive tract without triggering probiotic side effects. 

Taking too much of a certain strain or brand could cause indigestion.  For example, some people are allergic to certain lactose bacteria in probiotic supplements. However, if you don’t take enough of the right kinds of probiotics, your gut health may not reap all the benefits.

How To Counteract the Effect of Too Many Probiotics

If you’re feeling some digestive distress from probiotics, it’s important to know that this is not necessarily a bad thing. It sometimes means your body is adjusting to the beneficial bacteria and may just need some time to get used to the new microorganisms in your system.

In the meantime, here are some tips for dealing with too many probiotics:

• Start with a lower dose: If you’re taking probiotics for the first time, start by taking just one capsule daily or even less. See how your body reacts to this amount before gradually increasing the dosage.
• Take probiotics with food: Taking probiotics on an empty stomach can cause digestive upset for some people, so always try to take yours with meals and snacks throughout the day.
• Take a break from probiotics: If you’re experiencing stomach pain after taking probiotics, stop taking them for a few days and see if the symptoms go away.
• Eat a balanced diet that includes prebiotic foods: These are foods that feed the good bacteria already in your gut (such as legumes). Fiber helps to feed good bacteria in your gut and keeps them healthy, which is why it’s important to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Drink more water/ fluids: Drink water, especially if you’re experiencing stomach pain after taking probiotics. If you have a sensitive stomach and are experiencing bloating, gas, or diarrhea, increasing your water intake can help to reduce these symptoms.

How To Relieve Indigestion From Probiotics

If you already feeling indigestion after taking probiotics, there are some steps you can take to relieve the symptoms.

1. Do some light exercise

The most common method of relieving indigestion is to do some light exercise. If you’re able, try walking around for about 10 minutes or so. This will help to move the gas that has built up in your intestines and promote better digestion.

2. Eat something that contains fiber

Fiber is a great way to relieve indigestion. It helps move the gas through your digestive system, easing any discomfort you may be feeling. Try eating some applesauce, whole wheat toast, or orange for relief.

3. Drink a glass of water

Drinking water can help relieve many symptoms of indigestion, including heartburn or reflux. It’s also important to stay hydrated when you’re taking probiotics because they can sometimes cause diarrhea or other digestive issues.

4. Take antacids

Antacids that contain calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide can help relieve symptoms of indigestion by neutralizing stomach acid. They won’t cure the problem but they can make you feel better while your body heals itself.

5. Drink prune juice

Take prune juice for a day after an episode of indigestion to help relieve symptoms. Prune juice contains natural sugars and acids that can help reduce stomach pain and cramping. You may also want to try eating a handful of unsalted nuts or other foods high in calcium, magnesium, or phosphates, which can help neutralize stomach acid.

6. Massage your stomach area (without food)

Massaging the area around your stomach can help relieve pain and cramping. You can do this by using both hands to gently massage the area in a circular motion for about 30 seconds at a time. Try not to press too hard on your belly.

7. Try herbal teas

Herbal teas can be helpful if you have indigestion. They may also help relieve stress and anxiety, which can aggravate your stomach problems. Chamomile tea is a good choice for people who are experiencing mild indigestion or heartburn.

Peppermint tea may be more effective in treating severe symptoms of acid reflux or GERD.

8. Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep can help reduce your symptoms. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try these tips:

• Sleep in a cool room with no distractions such as TV or computer.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine at night. These substances can make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night.

Can Probiotics Mess Up Your Digestive System?

Taking too many probiotics or the wrong strain can surely give you indigestion, but many other digestive issues may arise from taking probiotics. The most common of these are flatulence, bloating, and diarrhea. 

These are usually temporary side effects that should go away after a few days or weeks. Still, there are some instances when these symptoms continue to persist even after you stop taking the probiotics.

Here are just some of the ways that probiotics can affect your digestive health:

Probiotics and Nauseous

Probiotics may make you nauseous if they are of a certain strain or potency. If that’s the case, it’s best to stop taking them and switch to another brand. Nausea usually goes away after a few days but can also be linked to other digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A sprinkle of baking soda in water can help relieve nausea. 

Probiotics and Stomach Pain

Probiotics are often used to prevent and treat stomach pain, but they may not be the culprit. If you’re experiencing stomach pain after taking probiotics, try stopping them for a few days to see if it goes away on their own. If not, then talk with your doctor about other possible causes of your pain, like an infection or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Probiotics and Stomach Gas 

The gas that you experience after taking probiotics may be due to the fermentation process of lactose-containing foods in your intestines by the good bacteria.

You can try taking probiotics at night when eating is less likely or stop eating lactose altogether if you have trouble digesting it. If you’re still experiencing gas, then stop taking them for a while and see if it goes away on its own.

Probiotics and Stomach Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a common digestive disorder that causes heartburn, belching, and regurgitation. It can occur in the esophagus and lower chest, causing pain or a burning sensation. It also disrupts sleep for sufferers.

Over-the-counter medications can help manage symptoms of acid reflux.

However, not everyone is able to take these medications without experiencing side effects such as nausea or diarrhea. Probiotics may be a viable complementary treatment for acid reflux because they may ease the side effects of medications that help manage the condition.

Probiotic strains may be beneficial for patients who are taking over-the-counter medications for acid reflux.

Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species are the most common strains used to treat acid reflux. These bacteria have been found to decrease inflammation in the stomach by increasing mucus secretion and decreasing the production of hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach wall.

Probiotics and Constipation

Probiotics can help with constipation by improving your overall health—which means they can also make you feel better in other ways. Some studies suggest that probiotics may help prevent constipation by helping to keep your digestive system functioning well.

However, not all probiotics are created equal! Many different strains exist, and some are specifically designed to be effective for people dealing with issues like constipation or diarrhea.

The best probiotic strain for constipation is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (also known as LGG). This strain has been shown to reduce symptoms of constipation in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic constipation, or functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS.

Will Probiotics Help My Indigestion?

If you have indigestion or heartburn, probiotics can help relieve symptoms by increasing the levels of good bacteria in your GI tract.

Probiotic Strains To Treat Indigestion

Here are some strains that have been shown to relieve indigestion and reduce inflammation:

• Bifidobacterium lactis

This strain is an excellent choice for those who want to treat their indigestion but don’t want to take medication because it contains antibiotics that can be harmful to people with kidney disease or who take medications like anticoagulants (blood thinners).

It also has been shown to reduce inflammation within the GI tract. It helps prevent infections caused by pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli (which causes stomach flu) and Streptococcus mutans.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus

This is a probiotic that has been shown to help prevent and treat indigestion caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. It helps relieve gas and bloating, as well as constipation and diarrhea.

• Acetobacter baumannii

This strain has been shown to reduce inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. This strain has been shown to reduce inflammation in the GI tract, which can help alleviate indigestion. It also helps prevent stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus 

This strain has been shown to reduce inflammation and calm the immune system so that it doesn’t overreact and cause further problems like heartburn or nausea after eating spicy foods.

Best Probiotics To Stop Indigestion and Digestive System Issues

If you’re looking to stop indigestion and digestive system issues in their tracks, Probiotics supplements are a great place to start. These supplements can help your digestive system work more efficiently by improving the health of your gut bacteria.

YourBiology Probiotics

Yourbiology Gut+ contains over four live potent strains of bacteria, which means it’s going to have a broad range of benefits for your digestive system. This product has been shown to be effective in reducing constipation, gas, and bloating.

The supplement contains prebiotics, which are healthy foods that feed the probiotics in your body so they can flourish. It helps support digestive health by improving digestion and stimulating bile production.

Yourbiology Gut+ probiotic is also free from dairy, wheat, soy, and gluten. This means you won’t have to worry about accidentally taking something that might upset your stomach or cause bloating.

Biotics 8

Biotics 8 is an all-in-one supplement designed to support digestion and digestive health. It contains ten strains of probiotic bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium lactis—two strains specifically for aiding digestion. The other eight different strains of probiotics work together to reduce pain caused by acid reflux or heartburn (or both).

You should take one capsule with each meal if you want to get the most benefit—but it’s safe to take as often as you like.

Gastricell

Gastricell supports your gut health by providing eight different strains of beneficial bacteria in one capsule every day. The capsules are easy to swallow so they won’t bother your stomach, but they’re still potent enough.

Conclusion

Some people can take more probiotics than others, and it’s important that you don’t overdo it. If you find yourself with digestive issues after taking a large number of probiotic capsules or eating foods that contain live cultures, try taking smaller doses or opt for another type of supplement, such as prebiotics.