What are the benefits of taking probiotics?

A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it's safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily. It's important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.

By taking probiotics, it is increasing the number of good bacteria which can detoxify your system and help you absorb nutrients more efficiently.

Probiotics are “good” bacteria that you can buy as supplements, but they also occur naturally in many fermented foods. They have a number of health benefits, and may even help you poop more. Research shows that probiotics could be especially useful in managing symptoms of IBS, including constipation.

Some probiotic strains may increase the risk of weight gain and obesity. Not all studies have found that probiotics aid weight loss. Some studies have found that certain probiotic strains might lead to weight gain — not weight loss.

Probiotics are most effective when they have been taken on an empty stomach to make sure the good bacteria makes it to the gut as quickly as possible. The best time to take a probiotic is either first thing in the morning before eating breakfast or before going to sleep at night.

You may also feel the urge to have a bowel movement, but only pass mucus or a very small amount of stool. It's a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other conditions, can also cause it.

Sticky poop can be a symptom of a temporary or chronic digestive disorder, or the result of a diet that contains too much fat. Sticky poop can appear greasy and pale or dark and tarry. If you also have other symptoms, such as gas or abdominal cramps, talk to your doctor to determine the cause.

Rectal prolapse is when part of the rectum bulges out of the anus. It is most often caused by weakening of the muscles that support the rectum. It can happen from constipation, damage from giving birth, or defects in the pelvis or lower gastrointestinal tract. At first, it may happen only after a bowel movement.

Blood in stool may appear red but often appears very dark or black with a tarry consistency ( 12 ). SUMMARY: IBS changes the time stool remains in your intestines. This changes the amount of water in stool, giving it a range from loose and watery to hard and dry.

Undigested food. A common source of white specks in the stool is undigested food. Sometimes foods that are difficult to digest — like quinoa, nuts, seeds, high-fiber vegetables, and corn — can actually move through the digestive tract without fully digesting. This can cause small white flecks in the stool.

Considerations. The liver releases bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. You may have clay-colored stools if you have a liver infection that reduces bile production, or if the flow of bile out of the liver is blocked. Yellow skin (jaundice) often occurs with clay-colored stools.

May 27, 2020 -- A new study has shown that COVID-19 virus isolated from the stool of a sick patient can infect cells in a petri dish. The research is a step toward proving a new route of transmission for the infection.

Black or tarry stools may be due to bleeding in the upper part of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, or the first part of the small intestine. In this case, blood is darker because it gets digested on its way through the GI tract.

Liquid bowel movements (also known as diarrhea) can happen to everyone from time to time. They occur when you pass liquid instead of formed stool. Liquid bowel movements are usually caused by a short-term illness, such as food poisoning or a virus.