Who Should Take Probiotics?

Probiotics are growing in popularity as a gut support supplement. But what are probiotics? And who should take them?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that support balance in the gut microbiome.^†

Our gut microbiome is an interconnected system of live bacteria that works to help support our digestive system. There are thousands of different strains of bacteria in our gut; some are helpful, and some are non-beneficial. Probiotics are helpful strains of bacteria that support general wellness alongside digestive health and gut balance.^†

Probiotic supplements can provide more of these helpful strains of bacteria to the gut microbiome, so probiotics may be a good choice if you're looking to support your gut health.^†

This guide will help you determine if you may benefit from probiotics and help you understand which probiotics do what.

How Probiotics Support Digestive Health

Are probiotics healthy for you? How do probiotics support digestive health? Our gut microbiome already includes probiotics; they're just strains of good bacteria. Probiotic supplementation helps by adding more good bacteria to work with the healthy bacteria naturally found in the gut to help support digestion and balance.^†

Regularly providing your body with probiotic supplementation can help support your digestive health. Probiotics adhere to the stomach lining, which is refreshed every day, so taking daily probiotics helps provide continual digestive health support.[1] Your body may need time to adjust when you start taking probiotics to see potentital beneficial effects.^†

Who Should Take Probiotics Daily?

Who should take probiotics? Depending on your specific health goals, possibly you! Let's dig into who might benefit from probiotic supplementation.

Adults Seeking Digestive Support

Do probiotics help with digestion? If you are an adult looking for digestive support, probiotics may be beneficial to your gut health. If you experience occasional digestive discomfort, such as gas, bloating, or irregularity, some strains of probiotic bacteria can provide support.^†

For example, Nature Made^® Probiotics 1 Billion CFU Capsules include a clinically studied probiotic to support digestive health and promote regularity.^†

Individuals with Busy or High-Stress Lifestyles

We're all connected. Sometimes, that can become all too apparent when our interconnected lives get busy, hectic, and stressful. In a similar sense, much of our body's functions are also connected to each other. High-stress lifestyles can sometimes disrupt the balance of our gut microbiome.[2]

When our gut gets out of balance, whether from stress or an inconsistent, unhealthy diet borne out of a busy schedule, supplementing with probiotics can help support digestive balance. If you live a high-stress or busy lifestyle, you might be interested in probiotic supplementation to help maintain a balanced gut, which can be a key part of your overall health.^†

Older Adults Supporting Gut Health

Our bodies undergo several significant changes as we age. While some of the apparent signs may be wrinkles and gray hair, there are a lot of internal changes as well. Our digestive health can change as we age, so it's always a good idea to support your gut health. Probiotic supplementation adds good bacteria to your digestive tract to support digestive health.^†

People Looking to Add Good Bacteria to Their Diets

You can get probiotic bacteria in your diet through some fermented foods. This includes yogurt, kefir, miso, kimchi, and more that contain live cultures. Fermentation feeds these beneficial bacteria strains, so including them in your diet gives your gut a source of probiotic bacteria. However, if your diet doesn't include fermented, probiotic-rich foods, you may look for alternative sources of probiotics, like supplementation.

Probiotic supplements are a convenient way to add a source of good bacteria to your diet, like our Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber Gummies, which provide a clinically studied probiotic to help relieve occasional gas, bloating, burping, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion.^†

Choosing the Right Probiotic for Different Needs

What probiotic should I take? If considering probiotic supplementation, the next step is to figure out the right Probiotic for your needs.

Digestive Support

If you are looking for targeted digestive support to relieve occasional gas, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, constipation, and irregularity, look into Nature Made^® Extra Strength 15 Billion CFU Probiotics Capsules. These daily capsules support digestive balance in the large and small intestines.^†

Daily Digestive Health Support

While some of us may have specific goals for digestive support, others just want a convenient daily probiotic for digestive health support we don't have to think about. If that sounds like you, check out our Digestive Probiotic Extra Strength Gummies, a tasty way to support healthy digestion by working with the good bacteria found in your gut.^†

Dual Benefit Probiotics

Remember when I said our gut was connected to the rest of the body? A great example is our Probiotics 1 Billion CFU Capsules, which provide a clinically studied probiotic bacteria strain to support gut balance and support the immune system. It's gut and immune health support in one daily supplement.^†

How to Start Taking Probiotics

What’s the best way to take probiotics? First, you should find the suggested use on the container, which will give you clear instructions on taking your probiotic supplement. If you want to add a probiotic to your daily wellness routine, consult a healthcare professional first; they are best equipped to give you personalized advice for your health and wellness.

We recommend taking probiotics with a consistent daily meal, like breakfast or dinner. This has a couple of benefits; for one, it makes it easier to remember to take them. For two, it ensures you're taking your probiotics with water and a meal. Because probiotics are live bacteria, they can be sensitive to stomach acid; taking them with food allows the food to absorb some stomach acid and protect the live cultures.[3]

For similar reasons, make sure not to take them with a hot beverage, only with cold or room temperature. And ensure you're storing them following the storage instructions on the packaging. Follow these tips, and you should be good to go!

Do I Need a Probiotic?

If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need a probiotic?”, the first thing you should do is consider what you're looking for in digestive health support and whether or not a probiotic might align with those health goals. If you are considering a probiotic, consult your primary healthcare provider to determine if you could benefit and which probiotic type and dosage works best for you.

Explore Nature Made^®'s Probiotics for Adults Collection today.

† 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. Plaza-Diaz J, Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, Gil-Campos M, Gil A. Mechanisms of Action of Probiotics [published correction appears in Adv Nutr. 2020 Jul 1;11(4):1054. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmaa042]. Adv Nutr. 2019;10(suppl_1):S49-S66. doi:10.1093/advances/nmy063
2. Beurel E. Stress in the microbiome-immune crosstalk. Gut Microbes. 2024;16(1):2327409. doi:10.1080/19490976.2024.2327409
3. 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