How Long After Taking A Probiotic Can You Drink Coffee

How Long Should You Take Probiotics

The length of time you should take probiotics depends on the reason youre taking them. If youre taking them to treat a specific condition, for example, you may only need to take them for a short period of time.

However, if youre taking them for general health purposes, you may need to take them long-term. Talk to your doctor to figure out how long you should take probiotics.

How Do Probiotics Work

Before we move on, how long after taking a probiotic can you drink coffee let us know how the probiotics work. The probiotics release good bacteria that colonize the gut lining to kill the harmful bacteria. It helps:

• Lessen cholesterol
• Lower the growth of yeast in the body
• Reduce the risk of colon cancer, etc.

Sponsored: Well Discuss The Differences Between Prebiotics And Probiotics And Well List Some Of The Best Products On The Market

| Prebiotic vs Probiotic: Full Guide And Best Products.

If youre like most people, youve probably heard of probiotics but you may not know what they are. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, and they can be found in some foods and supplements.

Prebiotics are types of fiber that help feed the good bacteria in your gut, so theyre essential for a healthy microbiome. In this blog post, well discuss the differences between prebiotics and probiotics, and well list some of the best products on the market!

Prebiotics and probiotics are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different things. Probiotics are live bacteria that are found in fermented foods or supplements, while prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that act as food for those same probiotic bacteria.

While both prebiotics and probiotics offer health benefits, they work in different ways and serve different purposes. Probiotics are live bacteria that can provide a number of health benefits, including strengthening the immune system, improving digestion, and reducing inflammation. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are non-digestible fibers that act as food for probiotic bacteria.

Don’t Miss: Does Mineral Oil Help With Constipation

Why Shouldnt You Have Coffee Immediately After Probiotics

Due to the Potential of Hydrogen

Studies reveal that bacteria mainly colonize in the intestine and colon because the alkaline conditions there are more favorable for probiotic growth.

Correspondingly, a 2021 review reported that only 104 CFU/ml of microbes inhabit the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine due to the harsh conditions maintained by gastric acid.

In comparison, the bacterial density may increase up to 1011 to 1012 CFU/ml in the last part of the small intestine and colon, where the milder intestinal fluid neutralizes the environment.

Relative to this, according to a 2018 study, the pH of coffee brews made with beans from different regions is mostly acidic and varies between 4.85 to 5.13.

Whereas the pH in the distal part of the small intestine may be 7.4 to 7.8, and in the colon, it varies between 5 and 8.

Therefore, consuming coffee or any acidic beverage after probiotics may further increase the stomach pH.

Hence, killing the non-resistant probiotic strains even before they reach the intestines.

Due to Temperature

Studies that evaluated the effect of different storage conditions on probiotics found that they lose viability at high temperatures. Hence, hot coffee after probiotics is a big no.

As you can see for yourself that these temperatures are far out of range than those that favor the probiotics transit and survival in the gut.

Therefore, you should avoid hot coffee with probiotic supplements.

Meal Composition May Help

Everything you eat and drink sits in the stomach for some time while the stomach secretes stomach acid and digestive enzymes. The heavier the meal and the more you eat, the longer it takes for the food to move through the stomach to the small intestine.

Many probiotics are recommended to be taken on an empty stomach to ensure they pass swiftly through the stomach and get as little exposure as possible to the hostile stomach acid. Even probiotics that come in stomach acid-resistant capsules benefit from moving through the stomach as swiftly as possible to ensure that the capsule does not open until it reaches the large intestine.

Many people see an improvement in the effectiveness of probiotics by taking them before breakfast as part of their morning routine. A small, easily digestible meal or a light snack is best if you eat before or after taking your probiotics.

Don’t Miss: Are Eggs Ok For Leaky Gut Diet

How Long Should It Take To See Improvements

It can be difficult to predict what effects you’ll see , and when.

When you try a new probiotic, it may take 68 weeks before you notice any changes. If you dont feel better, then stop taking it.

Some factors that may influence when you see results from probiotic use include:

• The type and dosage of probiotics. Probiotics found in food and supplement forms vary in strains and dosages. Just because one works, this doesnt mean they all will. Likewise, some strains may have counterproductive effects on symptoms like bloating and flatulence.

• The type of symptom. Some conditionsmay improve more quickly than others.

As ZOEs U.S. Medical Director and board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz says, it depends on your individualized response to the probiotics and what happened when you started them in the first place.

Dr. Bulsiewicz recommends having a specific goal in mind when you start consuming probiotics and discussing that goal with your doctor.

They can point you toward the probiotic thats most likely to address the issue, and they can monitor how the condition responds over time.

Portioning Out Your Probiotic Versus Having It All At Once

You can even split up your probiotics dose to rev up its impact on your gut if you really want to. “If youâre splitting up your dose, it might make sense to take one half in the morning and one half in the evening to maximize the beneficial effect on your gut flora,” says Richards. Dr. Sonpal agrees, noting that taking probiotics this way won’t overwhelm your gut, and “it’ll help you assess your system’s reaction to the probiotic in increments instead of all at once,” he says. “It also gives your system the opportunity to adjust to the effect of probiotics at smaller doses.”

So, since the time itself doesn’t exactly matterâyou don’t have to take them in the a.m. or p.m. precisely, just plan it around your meal timesâGreenfield says the only downside to not taking them at one of these optimal times is that there would be a decrease in potency. But you really don’t want that, so stick with what the pros say for the sake of your healthiest gut ever.

All in all, it’s important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. If a supplement isn’t making you feel great, offers a lot of side effects, or doesn’t seem to do anythingâ you can always talk to a provider about potential strategies to counteract this. Supplements are meant to support optimal health and well-being, so here’s to finding the right time for the most potency, and the least stomach rumbles.

Don’t Miss: Is It Normal For Newborns To Have Diarrhea

Is Coffee Bad For Your Gut Bacteria

If you like to support your gut health but love a cup or two of the brown stuff, this is a question you may have pondered upon. Luckily, I can reassure you that the answer to this question is no, coffee is not bad for your gut bacteria. In fact, you will be pleased to learn that drinking coffee can actually have a beneficial impact! Research shows that regular and decaffeinated roasted coffee can help to grow probiotic strains as it has a prebiotic effect, thought to be due to the polyphenols it contains, and different strains are able to use different parts of the coffee to grow3. Find out more about prebiotics in our article: What are Prebiotics?

Furthermore, those who consume coffee on a regular basis have been found to have higher levels of anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia and lower levels of pathogens such as Erysipelatoclostridium compared to non-coffee drinkers4. Fear not though, as even instant coffee drinkers are not missing out: drinking three cups of instant coffee a day has been shown to increase Bifidobacterium spp. levels5. Interestingly, the researchers found that results were most significant in those who had lower levels of Bifidobacteria at the start of the trial5.

Do Probiotics And Coffee Have Anything In Common

I spoke to Linda Booth, Vice Chair of UK Colonics who explained that this is a perfectly sound practice, and specified that it is “organic, ground coffee – not just instant coffee from the cupboard!”. Good to know. If you’re interested in finding out more about colon hydrotherapy, you can visit their website, and if you are considering undergoing the therapy we’d recommend finding a reputable practitioner by using ARCH’s ‘find a therapist‘ page.

Finally, sorry folks, were going to get right to the bottom of this subject yep, Im talking about bowels again. A lot of people know that coffee can help to make them, you know, ‘go’. Here I’d say that maybe coffee can have things in common with SOME probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12®. The mechanism by which coffee influences regularity isnt fully understood. It doesnt have this effect on everyone, and the common assumption was that it was due to the stimulatory effects of caffeine however, a small study seemed to disprove this last century, when decaffeinated coffee achieved the same effects as caffeinated6. Health professionals can read more about the research using Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12® on the Probiotics Database.

Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12®can be found in Optibac Probiotics Bifido & Fibre.

If you want to make your own probiotic coffee, read this great recipe for coffee kombucha:

Don’t Miss: Does Taking Probiotics Help You Lose Weight

How To Ensure Your Probiotic Will Work

The most important way to make sure the probiotic you choose will work is to find a reputable brand and follow the label directions suggested on how to take it. Each brand will have specific information based on the product.

Manufacturers are constantly trying to improve probiotic effectiveness by using different methods such as microencapsulation to protect probiotics from the environment, increasing chances of survival and potency.

tips for effective probiotic use

For a probiotic to work for you, it should be:

• Good quality . Choose one that shows proof of effectiveness.
• Stored correctly. Read labels and store as the label states .
• Taken as directed. Read labels and take as suggested .
• Able to survive in the body. The probiotic must be able to survive the trip through stomach acid and bile and colonize your gut.
• Safe for you. Read the label and note added ingredients. Watch out for added fillers and binders which might cause reactions.

A typical label will have the name of the specific probiotic , the dose in CFU, an expiration date, and instructions for use and storage.

The expiration date is important because it should have the use by date, which is how long the product will have live cultures.

Avoid products that list expiration as time of manufacture. The cultures may not be active or be less than listed by the time you buy it.

Should I Take Probiotics Before My Morning Coffee

Now this is a question that I am sure you have all bean wondering about! Which should I take first? Coffee or probiotics? We like to recommend that you take your probiotic first thing in the morning with breakfast, as this is the time when your stomach acid levels are at their least acidic. For many of us, this is a daily routine, but could drinking coffee really have a negative effect on our daily dose of probiotics? With differing opinions seemingly everywhere, lets try to clarify this by looking at the subject in more detail.

As weve learned in the previous paragraph, heat kills most types of probiotic bacteria. Therefore, I wouldnt advise mixing your probiotics into a hot drink. However, by the time your tea or coffee is cool enough to drink, its closer to body temperature, which probiotics can withstand. So, the simple answer is that no, you dont need to worry about taking probiotics at the same time as you are enjoying your morning coffee, though ideally, I would swallow your probiotic supplement with a sip of water, in between sips of the delicious brown stuff .

If you dont drink any hot drinks with your breakfast, but prefer water or juice, then of course this is fine. But its worth bearing in mind that probiotics arent keen on acid either, so Id avoid drinking them down or mixing them with fruit juice. Water or milk are best for bacteria. Lets sum up these hot beverage and probiotic guidelines in an easy checklist:

Don’t Miss: How To Correct Leaky Gut

Are There Any Side Effects Of Probiotics

Probiotics are generally considered safe for most people. However, some people may experience side effects such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea. If you experience any severe side effects, stop taking probiotics and speak with your doctor.

When selecting a probiotic supplement, its important to choose one that is high quality and has been tested for safety. Be sure to read the label carefully to make sure youre taking the right dosage and choosing a product that is right for you.

No matter which product you choose, be sure to follow the instructions on the label and speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Probiotics can be a great addition to your overall health and wellness routine.

What Should You Not Take With A Probiotic

Do not start, stop, or change the dose of your medicine without your doctors approval. Antibiotics, antifungals, blood thinners, blood pressure medications, corticosteroids, diuretics, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications are some of the medications that may interact with certain probiotics.

Also Check: Can Tight Pants Cause Heartburn

Can’t Kick The Coffee Habit Don’t Worry You Can Still Take Probiotics

Medically reviewed by Onikepe Adegbola, MD, PhD

Taking probiotics and coffee has always remained a hot topic among scientists. The vital purpose of consuming probiotics is for a healthy gut and digestive system. Its popularity has spiked the global sales of probiotics up to 40 billion dollars, according to the study titled Probiotics: Reiterating what they are and what they are not, which was published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

Despite the many health benefits of taking probiotics, have you ever wondered if taking coffee and probiotics impact your body positively or not? If not, what is the actual duration of taking coffee after consuming probiotics?

Certain Foods Interfering With Probiotics

Some foods, other than coffee, hamper the functioning of the probiotic bacteria. Merely consuming probiotics will not keep ones digestive tract healthy. The combination of foods and a healthy lifestyle and their proper balance help induce the benefits of taking probiotic supplements.

Some foods interfering with the probiotics functioning are:

• Carbonated drinks: Regular consumption of carbonated drinks harms the digestive system and gut health. Even switching to diet drinks is not a better alternative to carbonated drinks. They contain sugar substitutes, like sucralose and aspartame, that have harmful effects. It increases the bad bacteria and kills the good gut bacteria.
• Processed food: Packaged foods like cakes, cookies, crackers, and chips contain a high amount of artificial preservatives and chemical additives. These additives hamper the balancing of harmful and good bacteria. Replace these packaged foods with natural foods like fruits, vegetables, and cereals for a better nutrient supply to the body.
• GMO products: Genetically Modified food products or GMOs harm the probiotics. Cultivators use herbicides for growing GMO products that interfere with the digestive system. These are genetically-altered products that impair the functioning of good gut bacteria.

Here is the list of when it is good or bad to take probiotics:

You May Like: Will Apple Cider Vinegar Help Heartburn

Should You Take Probiotics On A Full Or Empty Stomach

Yes, timing does matter. First and foremost, consistency is key.

The natural environment for probiotic bacteria is the small and large intestine. That is where they perform all their goodness to strengthen your digestive tract and immune system.

To get there they have to pass through your stomach where the environment is very acidic.

Your stomach is designed to kill any bad bacteria and viruses that might make their way into your body via food and water. For the probiotic bacteria, this is bad news as prolonged exposure to stomach acid kills them.

The goal is to get the probiotics through your stomach acid as fast as possible. To do this, its recommended to take probiotics ideally on an empty stomach , so the probiotics bacteria can move through the stomach as fast as possible.

What If I Split Up The Probiotics Before & After The Meal

Again, that wouldnt cause any side effects.

However, considering that probiotics are at a high risk of dying as they try to pass through the more acidic stomach if you take them after a meal, youll render half of the supplement useless. Half the dose might not be enough to achieve the best effects, so it would be like wasting your money.

You May Like: Is Chicken Noodle Soup Good For Diarrhea

The Best Time To Take Probiotics

So… when should you pop your probiotic capsule? “Research shows that the best time to take probiotics is just before a meal or as you begin your meal,” says Lisa Richards, CNC, nutritionist, and creator of The Candida diet. “This is the time when your stomach environment is at its least acidic because your body has not yet begun to produce stomach acid in large quantities to digest your food. Taking your probiotics at this time will make their passage to your gut a little easier and ensure you get the most from those beneficial bacteria.”

However, Richards says the when-to-take aspect of probiotics depends on what type you opt for. “If your probiotic is enteric-coated or uses delayed-release capsules, it is more likely to survive stomach acid and so the exact timing is less important,” she says. If you’re taking a live strain probiotic supplement, “ideally you want to take them 20 minutes after you eat, first thing in the morning or right before bedtime,” Greenfield says. “This allows more of the probiotics to get into the large intestines where they will have the most benefits. If you are taking a soil-based probiotic, you can take them with food for the most impact.”

Not sure what kind you have? Dr. Sonpal says brands put that info on the packaging.