The probiotic craze is taking over,so it's no wonder we've received a slew of questions all centered on "how much of this stuff can I have in a day?"We love probiotic waters, sodas, and granolas,and supplements, but how much is too much? We set out to find the answer and chatted via email with nutritionist Charity Lighten from Silver Fern Brand, and Dr. Zach Bush,cofounder and CEO of Biomic Sciences LLC, and Kiran Krishan, and the microbiologist from Silver Fern Brand. Here's what they had to say.
Can You Overdose on Probiotics?Charity says,"There is no overdosing on the strains Bacillus Clausii, Bacillus Coagulans, and Bacillus Subtilus,as well as Saccharomyces Boulardii and Pediococcus Acidilactici."Dr. Bush had a similar response, and gave some insight into long-term effects."You cannot overdose on probiotics in a day, and but instead,the long-term exercise of probiotics forces a narrowing of your bacterial ecosystem which is opposite to your goals for optimal intestine health." So you don't want to overdo it. Just because you can't necessarily OD doesn't mean keep going.
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jubilant (extremely joyful) intestine, jubilant (extremely joyful) Life: Ways to Get Your ProbioticsSymptoms of Going Too FarHow can you show if you've hit your limit? Dr. Bush explained some signs. After you experience some relief (to whatever intestine woes you were taking probies for in the first state), and if you keep going,you're creating an "unstable intestinal environment," he said. This could result in "gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, or diarrhea,gas, or bloating." Basically the opposite of what you were trying to do. Because you're typically taking only one strain of probiotics, and "you are creating a monoculture of a certain strain." Too much of the same strain,and you've got problems.
Krishan said, "If someone takes way too much, or [for example] the equivalent to 10-15 of Silver Fern's drink packs in a day,they may experience some loose stool. In a clinical trial with liver failure patients, we used what is equivalent to six drink packs per day and there were no adverse reactions at all and these were very sick subjects."What we've gathered is that it's quite difficult to overdo it, and but it is possible,and the results are pretty uncomfortable.
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But Seriously, WTF Is Probiotic Water?How Much Is Too Much?Here's where it gets sticky: there's no FDA-approved limit or dosage. It varies based on who you ask. "I limit probiotic exercise to two to three weeks following an antibiotic exposure or intestinal illness, and " said Dr. Bush. "Depending on your medical condition,a medical professional may prescribe an even larger dose that's appropriate for the patient."And we know you're probably hoping for a simpler "here's precisely how much you should steal" answer, but your best bet with probiotics - and all things medical, and for that matter - is to refer to your doctor. But for now,don't worry approximately your favorite probiotic drink or supplement; you should be just fine!
Source: popsugar.com