If you find that you have to rush to the bathroom regularly, you’re experiencing cramping and bloating, and your stool is looser than you’d like to admit, you may be experiencing chronic diarrhea.
According to researchers at Baylor University Medical Center, nearly 5% of the population lives with this condition, but thankfully, there are ways to combat the symptoms. Making improvements to your diet, such as incorporating probiotics into your everyday health regimen, can be a simple way to control diarrhea. This can also be said for those who don’t live with chronic diarrhea, and are simply dealing with a sickness - beyond drinking lots of fluids, adding a probiotic to your supplement regimen is a proven way to mitigate loose stool.
But how impactful are probiotics for diarrhea in adults, and how quickly do they work? Let’s take a closer look at the benefit of treating bacteria in your gut with a probiotic supplement.
Are Probiotics Good for Diarrhea?
Probiotics are great for gut health and the digestive system, mostly because the strains of good bacteria in probiotics have evolved to restore balance by outcompeting and eliminating bad bacteria that may be causing the diarrhea in the first place.
According to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, “Probiotic products have special microorganisms like bacteria or yeast in them. These are thought to reach the bowel, where they suppress the germs that are causing the diarrhea and help the body fight them. The best-known probiotics are lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli). They are found in natural yogurt and other dairy products, as well as in some dietary supplements.”
In an effort to better understand the impact of probiotics on diarrhea, researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration analyzed 63 studies designed to provide insight into the effectiveness of probiotics for acute diarrhea. In total, the studies included nearly 8,000 people with cases of acute diarrhea.
Overall, the researchers found that most people who incorporated probiotics into their daily habits saw their diarrhea go away sooner. And with treatment, more than 50% of the participants who took probiotics were diarrhea-free after three days of taking probiotics.
Signs and Symptoms That Encourage Probiotic Use
Beyond diarrhea, here are some of the signs and symptoms that may be pointed to an unbalanced gut microbiome:
- Bloating
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea
- Mucus in your stool
Types of Diarrhea That Respond to Probiotic Treatment
According to Healthline, there are four main types of diarrhea that can be mitigated with probiotics. Those include:
- Infectious diarrhea. There are more than 20 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can lead to infectious diarrhea, such as E. coli, salmonella, gastroenteritis, and bacterial pneumonia.
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Antibiotics can be a disruptor of a healthy gut microbiome, oftentimes leading to diarrhea.
- Traveler’s diarrhea. This type of diarrhea can occur while traveling due to exposure to different microorganisms than you usually come into contact with.
- Giardiasis. This is a diarrheal disease as a result of Giardia, a microscopic parasite that lives in the intestines.
Types of Probiotic Strains that Can Treat Diarrhea
There are several probiotic strains that can be helpful in treating diarrhea, including lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, and saccharomyces boulardii.Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the most common strains of probiotics, and the most effective. Lactobacillus breaks down lactose and sugars in the gut, while Bifidobacterium breaks down carbohydrates and fiber within the gut. These strains can improve digestion, counteract bad bacteria, and interact with the immune system.
Saccharomyces boulardii is a holistic strain that also works to improve digestion and counteract the bad bacteria within the gut. This, in turn, can lead to a better immune system.
How Fast Do Probiotics Work for Diarrhea?
Probiotics work differently for everyone, but many can see a difference in bowel movements within just a few days. The more consistent you are with probiotics, the better - within a few weeks, you may notice a significant improvement in your digestion.
What are the Best Probiotics for Diarrhea?
If you’re thinking about using probiotics for diarrhea, consider a supplement that can benefit your gut and overall health and wellness altogether. Nella by FitBiomics is a daily probiotic created for men and women who want to elevate physical and mental functionality.
Based on innovative research performed at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Nella is comprised of a blend of three exclusive Lactobacillus strains to promote a healthy gut microbiome. This, in turn, can lead to better digestion, sleep, and energy levels.
While you may notice mild side effects in the early stages of taking Nella, such as mild gas, bloating, or more frequent trips to the bathroom, these symptoms will subside within a week or two. Within two weeks of taking Nella, you’ll notice a positive impact on your digestion. And the more consistently you take Nella, the better.
Are you ready to optimize your health from the inside out? Learn more about Nella by FitBiomics today.
WRITTEN BY: Marina Santiago, PhD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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Dr. Santiago has a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from the Microbiology and Immunobiology Department of Harvard Medical School, but she has been fascinated by microbes and microbial communities for as long as she can remember. She works as an independent R&D strategy consultant and helps companies create and use evidence-based frameworks for making strategy decisions as well as helping them launch new programs or initiatives. Dr. Santiago is also passionate about fitness and the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and backpacking very long distances, as well as slowly getting better at yoga, Muay Thai, and Jiu Jitsu. |