When is the Best Time to Take Probiotics?

Eating a well-balanced diet with nutritious foods is an excellent step toward supporting digestive health. But it's not the only step! As you have probably heard, there's a growing interest in new ways to supplement your diet with probiotics for digestive health support.^†

You may have heard people discussing probiotics before, as they are growing in interest and popularity, but what are probiotics? How do probiotics support your digestive health? And what is the best time to take probiotics? This article will answer all of these questions and present you with a number of Nature Made^® probiotic supplement options to help you find our best probiotic for your needs.

What are Probiotics?

You’ve seen the word before, but what exactly are probiotics? It’s pretty simple: probiotics are beneficial live bacteria that help supplement the preexisting bacteria in your gut to support your digestive health.^†

That’s right, our digestive system isn’t just organs; it’s also dependent on a complex ecosystem of bacteria known as the gut microbiome. We can get probiotics in our diets through probiotic foods, mainly fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and miso. However, if your diet doesn’t regularly include fermented probiotic foods, supplements give your body a regular source of good bacteria to work with good bacteria naturally found in your gut to support healthy digestion.^†

Why Timing Matters for Taking Probiotics

What is the best time to take probiotics? Is there a best time of day to take a probiotic? Timing matters when taking probiotics, not due to the time of day, but rather regarding other factors like meals and consistency. Nature Made^® suggests taking probiotics with a meal and a cool or room-temperature beverage, so timing your probiotic intake to coincide with a regular meal like breakfast, lunch, or dinner can be beneficial.

Taking probiotics with food is helpful because the live microorganisms in a probiotic supplement can be damaged by stomach acid, and food can absorb some of that stomach acid.[1] Similarly, it's recommended to take probiotics with a cool or room-temperature beverage rather than a hot beverage like coffee or tea because the hot liquid can also damage the bacteria.

Another benefit to taking probiotics with a regular meal is consistency. Because some probiotic strains work by adhering to the inner lining of the intestine, which is excreted each day, taking your probiotic supplements consistently each day helps provide a consistent source of probiotics for your digestive health.[2]^†

Most of us eat meals at the same time every day; it's an established part of our daily routine. By taking your probiotics alongside a consistent meal, you make taking consistent probiotics a whole lot easier.

Best Times to Take Probiotics

Here are some tips on how to get the most out of taking probiotics.

With Meals

As stated above, taking a probiotic supplement with a meal can help protect the good bacteria from stomach acid, and it helps to keep your supplementation routine consistent.[1] Digestive health is supported by eating a balanced diet filled with essential nutrients.

In particular, the bacteria in our gut microbiome feed on prebiotic fibers, which can be found in oatmeal, bran, flaxseed, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. By providing your body with these fibers, you support the probiotic bacteria in your gut. One easy way to get prebiotic fiber daily is with our Prebiotic Fiber Drink Mix Powder—one level scoop goes into any beverage of your choice.^†

In the Morning

Are you a morning person? If so, you might like to take your probiotic supplements with breakfast. This helps start your day with digestive support, which means you don't have to think about probiotics for the rest of the day. If you're the type of person who views sleep as a secret way to time travel to breakfast, a morning probiotic may be right for you.^†

At Night

Some of us don't always eat a hearty breakfast, so taking your probiotics in the morning may not be a great fit. If that sounds like you, taking your probiotics in the evening with dinner might be a better fit, letting you focus on getting out the door in the morning and taking care of your probiotic supplementation once the day is winding down. Taking a probiotic with dinner can be an easy part of your wind-down routine and can help you relax with the knowledge you're taking care of your gut.^†

On the Go

It seems like our lives get busier and busier, and when you're on the move, sometimes it can be challenging to sit down and have a full meal with your probiotic. Nature Made^® offers a Digestive Probiotic Extra Strength Gummies option for those looking for a more portable option.

These gummies provide probiotic bacteria in a tasty form for people on the go who still want to give their digestive system some probiotic support. However, it's essential to be mindful that you store them tightly closed in a cool, dry place at or below 75°F (23°C) out of reach of children.^†

How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You

Choosing the right probiotic for you can seem challenging when there are so many options. Probiotic supplementation is a growing part of digestive health, how do you know which one to choose? It's crucial to ensure you select high-quality supplements made from high-quality ingredients.

Nature Made^® probiotics are sourced from high-quality ingredients and come in several forms to best suit your needs and preferences. Explore our Probiotics Collection of high-quality supplements to help provide good bacteria to your digestive tract and support digestive health.^†

Tips for Incorporating Probiotics Into Your Routine

Here are some quick tips for incorporating probiotics into your daily routine:

1. Consistency. Probiotics provide the best benefit when taken daily, so pair them with a meal, set an alarm, or write a sticky note reminder to help you remember.
2. Pair with a balanced diet. Probiotics are just one aspect of digestive health, and providing your body with nutritious foods is another great way to support your gut.
3. Store properly. As with any supplement, read the storage instructions on the label to ensure they maintain their effectiveness over time.

Ready to Support Your Gut Health? Here's the Next Step!

It's easy to understand why probiotics are of growing interest to those looking to support their digestion. Supplementing your diet with probiotics can support your gut microbiome and digestive health. For more information, check out this article on how do you know if probiotics are working.^†

To continue your wellness journey, explore Nature Made^®'s Probiotic and Prebiotic Collections as a trusted source of digestive health supplements.^†

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Tompkins TA, Mainville I, Arcand Y. The impact of meals on a probiotic during transit through a model of the human upper gastrointestinal tract. Benef Microbes. 2011;2(4):295-303. doi:10.3920/BM2011.0022 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22146689/
2. Monteagudo-Mera A, Rastall RA, Gibson GR, Charalampopoulos D, Chatzifragkou A. Adhesion mechanisms mediated by probiotics and prebiotics and their potential impact on human health. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2019;103(16):6463-6472. doi:10.1007/s00253-019-09978-7 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6667406/