Foods and beverages to avoid after taking probiotics as they kill healthy bacteria in your gut.
Without making any additional efforts, all coffee drinkers can benefit from boosting the balance of healthy bacteria in their gut, but it can be difficult. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Experts are becoming more excited about the idea of a “second brain,” which is looking at how our digestive system’s bacteria are working.
The scientific and medical communities are only now beginning to grasp how the balance of bacteria in the gut influences elements of overall health, but scientists have already identified a correlation between beneficial bacteria and healthy digestive system function.
They said that this leads to improved heart health, lower cholesterol, a stronger immune system, and even better anxiety and depression coping mechanisms.
Do you probiotics?
This is why many people opt to take probiotics on a regular basis all over the world, since they may help to improve the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut.
Probiotic supplements, like any other drug or supplement, might interact with other substances, reducing its effectiveness and absorption.
One intriguing example is the reaction of gut bacteria to a beverage that most of us require to start our days: coffee. The relationship between the two is complicated. However, the good news is that coffee can help to restore bacterial balance.
It’s been established that if you don’t overdo it — that is, if you consume more than five cups of coffee each day — coffee can be quite good for your health. Coffee, especially black coffee, has been shown to be beneficial to gut bacteria.
People who drank two or more cups of coffee per day had a greater rate of healthy gut bacteria than those who drank less or didn’t drink coffee at all, according to a 2019 study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. The chlorogenic acid contained in coffee, which contributes to health in a variety of other ways, is thought to be the explanation for this, according to experts.
However, if you prefer your coffee sweet, you should be aware that adding sugar to it can be harmful to your health and can even cancel out the positive effects of coffee on intestinal bacteria and digestive system health.
The bad news is that if you take probiotics, you should avoid drinking coffee for a while.
Researchers believe that unlike other supplements whose caffeine may hinder absorption, probiotics do not interact negatively with coffee.
If you take probiotic pills, though, coffee can “kill” them if you drink it right before or after you take them.
Tea, in particular, might be difficult owing to the heat of the beverage.
The bacteria in these supplements are thought to be extremely sensitive, and any factor that raises the warmth or acidity in the stomach may kill them before they can safely reach their permanent home in the gut. So, preferably, take the supplement on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up or immediately before bedtime.
What is the most effective method for taking supplements?
You should wait at least an hour or two after taking supplements before drinking anything hot in the morning to support the efficient absorption of bacteria in the gut.
It is recommended that you avoid the following activities during this time period:
- Very hot foods, which can also harm the sensitive bacteria
- Simple sugar
- Saturated fat
- Red meat
- Carbonated beverages, or anything else that usually gives you heartburn.
Probiotic supplements aren’t the only option to boost your digestive tract’s bacterial equilibrium.
Other foods that can help with this include:
- Yogurt
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
- Specific cheeses, like cheddar, mozzarella and gouda.
Image Credit: Getty
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