Though bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, about 100 trillion bacteria, both good and bad, live inside your digestive system.

Surprise, surprise!

Some bacteria help digest food, destroy disease-causing cells, and some produce vitamins. Many of these bacteria are also found in the foods we eat and are often termed probiotics.

So, do probiotics make your poop?

Yes, they do make you poop.

A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you can treat constipation and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria.

What Are Probiotics and How Do They Work?

To put it simply, probiotics are live microorganisms, such as strains of bacteria, that in adequate amounts, give you a health benefit.

They can be developed and grown in a lab and put in pills, powder, or other products. They also occur naturally in some fermented foods and drinks.

Think of a microbiome as a diverse community of organisms, such as a forest, that work together to keep your body healthy. This community is made up of things called microbes.

You have trillions of microbes on and in your body.

Most fermented food contains probiotics that help boost gut bacteria and makes your digestion better.

These microbes are a combination of:

  • Bacteria
  • Fungi (including yeasts)
  • Viruses
  • Protozoa

For a microbe to be called a probiotic, it must have several characteristics.

These include being able to:

  • Be safely consumed
  • Be isolated from a human
  • Have a proven benefit to you
  • Survive in your intestine after ingestion (being eaten)

How Does it Work?  

Probiotics work as peacekeepers by helping to restore order and keep things humming.

They work mainly by displacing bad bacteria from the intestine and immune systems.

Probiotics can help prevent diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and abdominal bloating. They also help block the uptake of bad bacteria by improving the ability of the intestinal mucosal barrier to resist infection.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome

Probiotics are made up of good bacteria that help keep your body healthy and working well.

This good bacteria helps you in many ways, such as:

Probiotics help improve digestion, gut health and prevent constipation.

  • Improve Digestion – The microbes in the intestines produce enzymes to help break down lactose, gluten, fibers, and other food we eat.
  • Work as a First-Line Defense – Our intestine is a breeding ground for both good and good bacteria. Good microbes act as a wall for harmful bacteria or toxins from getting through to the gut cells.
  • Improve Energy Levels – Vitamins B is the main source of energy in our body. Some groups of bacteria can make vitamin B for you. They also help to get the maximum amount of energy and nutrients from the food we eat.
  • Boost Immune Health – 70% of our immune cells are located in the gut. One primary job of gut microbes is to keep the immune system strong.
  • Improve Skin Health – Friendly bacteria produce beneficial substances in the body, as opposed to the toxins produced by pathogenic (bad) bacteria which can contribute to poor skin.

What Digestive Conditions Can Probiotics Treat?

There is currently a large amount of research happening around the idea of what probiotics can do for your body.

For problems related to gut health, probiotics can treat the following:

  • Diarrhea – Probiotics can help prevent and relieve diarrhea that occurs from antibiotic use, infections, traveling, and some underlying medical conditions in children and adults. Some research shows that the bacteria strains most likely to help are Lactobacillus Reuteri, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, and the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii.
  • Constipation – Studies suggest that probiotics may relieve constipation related to pregnancy, certain medications, or digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Probiotics are largely safe and effective, making them an excellent addition to a healthy diet to improve bowel regularity.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Probiotics can effectively treat the symptoms of IBS unless you also suffer from Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Probiotics are best considered adjunctive therapies in the treatment of most patients with IBD. Their safety and overall tolerance make them attractive to both patients and physicians, but they are best used in conjunction with other therapies.

How Do Probiotics Help With Constipation?

Although probiotics are not laxatives, they may help you to poop more regularly if you have constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.

Probiotics alleviate constipation by increasing short-chain fatty acid production, reducing the pH of the colon, and increasing bile salt metabolism, all of which help stimulate peristalsis.

Some probiotic strains are better than others at improving symptoms of constipation.

Probiotics are generally considered safe, but your body might experience some temporary side effects while it gets used to the new bacteria, including bloating and flatulence.

These are usually mild and go away after a few days once your body adjusts.

4 Best Probiotic Supplements

Probiotics can also be taken in supplement forms, which contain high doses of a single probiotic strain or multiple probiotic strains.

Among all species of probiotics, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species are by far the most commonly studied and added to probiotic supplements.

Probiotics can be taken in the form of a supplement if you don't like fermented foods.

  1. Bifidobacterium Lactis BB-12 – These probiotic supplements are commonly used for diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. They’re also used for preventing the common cold or flu, and lots of other conditions
  2. Bifidobacterium Lactis HN019 – This is a probiotic strain for which many health benefits have been established, primarily related to immune enhancement. They have also been shown to confer beneficial changes to the intestinal microflora.
  3. Bifidobacterium Lactis DN-173 010 – A large, randomized, controlled trial demonstrated that the intake of an effective amount of Bifidobacterium lactis DN is able to significantly relieve the evacuation disorders and hard stools in patients with constipation.
  4. Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG – This is a bacteria that exists naturally in the body, primarily in the intestines. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has been used as a probiotic to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach and intestines.

7 Tips for Taking Probiotics for Constipation

Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

Some medications that may interact with certain probiotics include antibiotics and antifungals.

Keep these things in mind while taking probiotics for constipation:

While taking probiotics make sure to drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated.

  1. Drink Enough Water – Keep your body hydrated. Drink at least 2 to 4 liters of water every day.
  2. Include Soluble Fiber – Give your body more soluble fiber. Soluble fiber gives stool bulk. Foods that are good sources of soluble fiber include apples, bananas, barley, oats, and beans.
  3. Exercise More – Exercise helps constipation by lowering the time it takes food to move through the large intestine. This limits the amount of water your body absorbs from the stool. Hard, dry stools are harder to pass.
  4. Consult Your Doctor – Ask your doctor if any medications you’re taking can be contributing to constipation and if there is an alternative.
  5. Know When To Take Probiotics – While it’s best to take probiotics on an empty stomach, you could try taking your supplement with food while your body adjusts.
  6. Understand The Dosage – Avoid taking larger probiotic doses at the initial period. Go with the flow and gradually increase the dose.
  7. Opt for Allergic Free Probiotics – Make sure there are no ingredients in the supplement you might be allergic to, like gluten or dairy.

FAQs About Probiotics for Constipation

That’s hard to say. Everybody is different, and so are the underlying causes of constipation. The duration of studies showing the efficacy of probiotics generally spanned four weeks to ninety days.

Not in most cases, but it can happen. For example, taking Saccharomyces boulardii in large doses can slow down digestion and might not be appropriate if you’re trying to speed up your gut transit time.

Omni-Biotic Balance is a probiotic that combines six strains of beneficial bacteria specifically shown to increase the frequency of bowel movements and improve stool consistency while leaving out fillers that can exacerbate digestive distress.

Let Good Bacteria Take Care of You

Even if you’re really proactive about your health, countless everyday things can throw off your gut balance. 

Illness, stress, hormones, food, and travel can all contribute to changes in bowel habits. 

Making sure your gut is regularly populated with a variety of good gut bacteria is the best way to stay on track long-term.

So, do probiotics make you poop?

Yes, they do! 

But remember, probiotics aren’t permanent. They take up temporary residence in your gut. 

You have to keep consuming them for maximum benefits. It requires about five days of habitual ingestion for probiotics to build up a presence.

Include yogurt and fermented foods in your diet and let the good bacteria take care of you.