Our gut health and microbiome are key to our general health and wellbeing. So, if you’re keen to embrace a healthier lifestyle, focusing on your gut is a great place to start. When assessing our gut health, it’s essential that we consider our consumption of probiotics. Foods rich in probiotics are populated with live microorganisms that not only support our gut health, but actively improve our gut health, too. If you want to know more about probiotics and how best to incorporate probiotics into your diet, it’s likely that you have a long list of questions surrounding the topic. One of the most common questions about probiotics is ‘when should I take probiotics?’ And we have everything you need to know right here.

What is the best time to take probiotics?

Ultimately, consistency is key when it comes to probiotics, so if you’re concerned about when to take probiotics, it’s important to remember that the frequency of consumption is way more important than the timing.

Of course, advice on this matter does vary and while some supplement manufacturers instruct that probiotics are taken on an empty stomach, others suggest that taking them with food is more effective. This conflicting advice can make things particularly confusing.

Is it better to take probiotics in the morning?

While consistency is the most important factor when taking probiotics, there is some evidence to suggest that it is particularly advantageous to take probiotic supplements before breakfast time. At Dr. Ohhira, we recommend taking our probiotics on an empty stomach, around 45 minutes before eating breakfast.

Probiotics are particularly sensitive to stomach acid, and directly impact the acidity levels within our gut. Opting to take probiotics just before eating food can help regulate our stomach acid, ultimately encouraging that all-important good bacteria to reach our gut. Another reason why many health professionals advise taking probiotics before breakfast is because our digestive system is usually more active during the daytime. While our gut is active, the probiotics we consume are able to journey through our digestive tract more effectively, enabling us to harness the full power of our probiotic supplements.