15 Signs Probiotics Are Working

Probiotics aren’t just a fad, new diet for weight loss or promises of a healthier version of yourself. Without probiotics living in your microbiome, chances are you will experience an unhealthy body, mind, and weight. 

Is it really as simple as taking an over-the-counter probiotic to feel and look better? I put it to the test.

I did my research and came up with 15 signs your probiotics are working. I hope this list can help you notice the effects of your probiotics in action, as it did for me! 

What Do Probiotics Do?

Don’t be alarmed, but there are trillions of bacteria alive and well taking space in your body. Probiotics are the microorganisms that live in something called your microbiome. 

You can think of probiotics as healthy microorganisms (usually bacteria) that live in a diverse community in your body. 

What do probiotics do depend on a whole slew of factors. These healthy microorganisms help to keep your body functioning properly, including gut health, warding off diseases, and producing important vitamins.

Probiotics provide a wide range of subsequent benefits as they work and live to keep your insides performing optimally. Thank goodness for these healthy bacteria!

15 Signs Your Probiotics are Working

I came up with a list of 15 signs your probiotics are working, so maybe it can help you see the changes (or not) if you recently started paying attention to your probiotic intake.

Turns out, the research seems to be true at least as far as my overall health is concerned!

These signs range from changes in your mood all the way to differences in your lab numbers. Keep in mind, these changes may take time and vary from person to person!

Let’s get started!

Decrease in Depression Symptoms 

Depression is a common, often debilitating, mental health disease that impacts nearly 300 million adults worldwide. While researchers and mental health professionals have worked tirelessly to find a “cure” for it, there is still much investigation that needs to be done.

However, an exciting new study shows that regularly taking probiotics shows a significant decrease in depression in most adults and those who suffer from major depressive disorder.

If you’ve been taking probiotics and feel some slight reductions in your symptoms of depression, this could be a good sign the probiotics are helping!

Increase in Energy 

Hanger is a very really thing! After all, we get energy from food. If you break it down, we know our food travels directly to our gut. But what happens after we chow down our last bite?

Our body metabolizes food and converts it into energy. You have to have a healthy metabolism in order for food to be used as proper fuel. It’s like putting regular gasoline in a car that requires premium petroleum.

Probiotics have shown to have a positive impact when it comes to your metabolism. If you’re noticing your energy levels increasing a bit, it could be a indicator your probiotics are working!

Sharper Focus

“You are what you eat.” There is some scientific truth behind this statement, and it has to do with something called your gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis is the strong link between your gut and brain.

Probiotics live and work in the gut. Your gut communicates with your brain regularly and feeds it from within. That could be kind of a scary thought, but not if you have a healthy community dwelling in the pit of your stomach.

I’ve found it has been a bit more effortless to take a seat and finish what I’m working on. Is it the probiotics? It could certainly be a clue that they are working as they chat with my brain!

Enhanced Memory

Similar to noticing my focus increasing over the last couple of months of taking probiotics, I noticed I was recalling details more frequently than I had before.

I could only assume it had a lot to do with the gut-brain axis as well. It turns out, that could very well be the case.

The research is still limited when it comes to the effects probiotics have on memory, but there have been some that show promise.

Again, linking back to the gut-brain axis, probiotics have been shown to help with a healthy gut. Subsequently, a healthier gut leads to a healthier cognition.

So, if you start to notice you are remembering events or details with more ease, you could probably credit this to your intake of probiotics!

No More Hitting Snooze

I noticed early on in my probiotic journey, that my sleep quality had improved significantly! It may not be the case for everyone, but there was a noticeable difference for me.

It isn’t just in my mind that my sleep quality was better, but there have been recent studies that directly relate probiotics with enhanced sleep.

 

If you look at the potential benefits between probiotics and mood, it seems to fit that my sleep quality would be affected.

Quality sleep is associated with weight loss, improved mood, and a healthier immune system. I’m certainly grateful my sleep has improved since taking probiotics!

Better Liver Function

When it comes to the signs your probiotics are working, it’s not always something you can directly see or feel. Sometimes, the lab results will show you the signs you cannot observe yourself.

Probiotics have been shown to help with a healthy liver. Who knew? Usually, our liver isn’t something we spend a lot of time thinking about until it becomes an issue.

Like if you suffer from Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), one of the most common liver dysfunctions globally. 

If you have already been diagnosed with a liver disease, you may find your lab numbers showing improvement after probiotics.

Although you cannot see the numbers yourself, a change in your liver function can be a good sign that your probiotics are working! 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Decrease in Symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common ailment for much of the population. Sadly, IBS is a chronic and life-long condition, but fear not – the symptoms can be managed.

If you suffer from IBS, you may start to notice a decrease in its unwanted, uncomfortable symptoms if you regularly take probiotics.

Research has shown that consumption of probiotics plays a positive role in alleviating some of the common problems caused by IBS.  

If you start to experience less cramps and stomach problems, there’s a high chance that your probiotics are working to ease your IBS. What a relief, literally!

Helps with Obesity 

Obesity isn’t all just about how you look. It plays a major role in your overall health. Your risk of other diseases multiplies if you suffer from obesity, but there are changes you can make to combat this risk.

Probiotics have been proven to help reduce the risk of and help overcome obesity.

The implementation of probiotics to your lifestyle won’t work alone to help you lose a bunch of weight, but I believe it can certainly help – as the studies show.

If you notice that you are starting to shed a few pounds after using probiotics, this could be a marker that they are working to your benefit.

Decrease in Vaginal Infections

Believe it or not, probiotics play a role in treating and even preventing vaginal infections like yeast infections or urinary tract infections. 

For women, the vaginal pH level plays a big role in preventing common infections. This probably isn’t something you often think of, I know that I didn’t until my research on probiotics.

If you have started to notice a decrease in unpleasant vaginal infections after using probiotics, this seems perfectly plausible.

Don’t just trust me on this, research has shown the positive effects probiotics have on treating and getting rid of those pesky infections by helping to balance the pH levels in your lady parts.

Healthier Blood Pressure

When it comes to a healthy heart, your blood pressure can provide a lot of information on just how well it is performing (or not)! It’s always a little nerve-racking when the doctor’s office puts that wrap on your arm and starts to apply pressure.

You only get relief once they say, “Blood pressure looks good!”

The good news for you is that probiotics have shown to have a significant effect on helping your blood pressure for those with hypertension (high blood pressure).

Your regular blood pressure reading may be closer to normal numbers if you’ve started to take probiotics. No pressure!

Enhanced Immune System

Flu season is just around the corner if not already here! With the uncertainty and prevalence of diseases lately, having a strong immune system is your biggest ally in the defense of getting sick. 

It comes as no surprise that it’s suggested that probiotics are beneficial and help to create a tougher immune system.

If you find yourself not getting the nasty cold that comes every year, you could safely assume this is a sign your probiotics are working to keep you healthy!

Help with Diabetes 

Type 2 Diabetes is unfortunately an incurable disease. However, there have been many therapeutic approaches to help ease and manage some of the symptoms – probiotics being one of them!

Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study showed that there is a strong correlation that suggests probiotics have a positive impact on helping to reduce some of the negative effects of type 2 diabetes. Probiotics help with managing your metabolism and the imbalance of lipids – two strong factors that play a role in people who have type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

Another study was conducted on women with post gestational diabetes where it revealed that probiotics are almost “necessary” in helping to prevent glucose intolerance in pregnant women.

I don’t know about you, but I will certainly make sure I’m taking probiotics when it comes time for me to have children. In the meantime, if you have type 2 diabetes, you may notice some improvement from taking probiotics regularly.

Less Bloated

Absolutely nobody likes being bloated! It is such an uncomfortable and displeasing look, but if you’ve noticed a decrease in bloat since taking probiotics – that’s a good and normal sign!

Bloating is an annoying and common occurrence, but research has shown that probiotics appear to alleviate bloat in some people.

These studies have not just shown a correlation between probiotics and bloat, but that there is a significant difference when it comes to bloating between those who took probiotics versus those who didn’t.

I’m going with the research on this one, as I have personally experienced less bloating. And, honestly, it has been such a relief! 

Decreased Stomach Pain 

Along with less bloat, you may have also been noticing less abdominal pain. The same study that suggests probiotics help alleviate bloat also found that they can help reduce stomach pain.

It isn’t surprising that taking probiotics can help with your stomach aches and pains, as they are specifically for your gut. 

If you experience less pain when it comes to your belly, you can probably give some credit to your probiotics on this one. A decrease in stomach pain is a great display of your probiotics in action!

Healthier Skin

It doesn’t seem fair to have acne once you’ve reached adulthood or have eczema flareups ruin your look. Skin problems are near impossible to hide.

We can’t all have great skin, but probiotics could offer up some help if you’re looking for clearer skin. 

There have been multiple studies that suggest probiotics could offer more than just help on the inside but also with your largest organ – skin. While research is still ongoing, it seems promising that incorporating probiotics into your skin care routine wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

If you’re noticing healthier skin, this could indicate that your probiotics are working.

Signs Your Probiotics Are Working. Our Conclusion

I hope you have a better understanding after learning about 15 signs your probiotics are working.

You should keep in mind that the progress of your probiotic journey depends primarily on your current health state. It certainly will not look the same for everyone.

If you notice any positive changes to your mood, body, and/or lab numbers – you could take this as a hint your probiotics are starting to take effect!

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Enjoy this article, check out our other content on What Causes Herpes Flare Ups on Lips and the 5 Best Kids Probiotic Gummies