{"id":627748,"date":"2026-09-17T18:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/627748\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T18:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:44:15","slug":"6-signs-your-gut-health-needs-a-probiotic-according-to-gastroenterologists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/627748\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Signs Your Gut Health Needs a Probiotic, According to Gastroenterologists"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated7 min read<\/p>\n

Probiotics<\/a> have become increasingly popular in recent years for their potential benefits on gut health. In fact, according to a recent study<\/a> published in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology<\/a>, probiotic supplement use increased by 287% among U.S. adults from 2009 to 2023. But how do you know if you need to take probiotic supplements<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Ahead, we had experts weigh in on the most common signs you may benefit from taking probiotic supplements\u2014while also sharing who shouldn\u2019t take them, what to know before taking them, their favorite supplements, and more.<\/p>\n

Meet the Experts: Susan Kais, M.D.<\/a>, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist in Cincinnati; Ruvini Wijetilaka, M.D., a board-certified internal medicine physician and medical advisor for VSL Probiotics<\/a>; and Arkady Broder, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified gastroenterologist and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Saint Peter\u2019s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.<\/p>\n

What is a probiotic?<\/p>\n

\u201cProbiotics are live microorganisms that have the potential to provide some health benefits,\u201d says Susan Kais, M.D.<\/a>, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist in Cincinnati. \u201cThey can help support a healthy, diverse microbiome in the gut, which plays an important role in digestion, immune function, and maintaining the intestinal barrier. Certain strains of probiotics may help target specific digestive symptoms like constipation<\/a>, bloating<\/a>, and diarrhea<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Probiotics can be naturally found in fermented foods<\/a> such as yogurt<\/a> with live and active cultures, kefir<\/a>, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, kombucha<\/a>, certain aged cheeses, and more. Experts generally recommend incorporating these foods into your daily diet before reaching for a probiotic supplement<\/a>. \u201cMost healthy people with a varied, fiber-rich diet don\u2019t need a daily probiotic to thrive,\u201d notes Ruvini Wijetilaka, M.D., a board-certified internal medicine physician and medical advisor for VSL Probiotics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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However, there are certain conditions in which taking probiotics<\/a> may be helpful. In these cases, \u201cthe right strain, at the right dose, can support more regular digestion, reduce bloating and gas, strengthen the gut lining, and even help modulate inflammation throughout the body,\u201d says Dr. Wijetilaka. She recommends supplements from VSL Probiotics<\/a>\u2014specifically VSL#3<\/a>, a multi-strain probiotic medical food, which has the honor of earning our best probiotic for bloating<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of probiotics? <\/p>\n

According to Arkady Broder, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified gastroenterologist and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Saint Peter\u2019s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, specific benefits of probiotics include aiding digestion, rebalancing the gut and strengthening the gut barrier, crowding out harmful microorganisms, and boosting the immune system.<\/p>\n

Dr. Broder says the strongest evidence for probiotic supplement<\/a> use is for gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)<\/a>, acute infectious diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea<\/a>, ulcerative colitis<\/a> (a type of inflammatory bowel disease<\/a> that causes inflammation and sores in the colon), and pouchitis<\/a> (inflammation after certain colon surgeries).<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just your digestive health that can benefit from probiotics\u2014research suggests that it can even help boost immunity<\/a> and support mental health<\/a>, according to Dr. Wijetilaka. \u201cThe gut is really the control center for so much more than digestion\u2014immune function, mood, hormone metabolism<\/a>, even skin health<\/a> all trace back to the microbiome in some way,\u201d she explains. \u201cWhen the balance of good bacteria in your gut is disrupted, whether from antibiotics, stress, a poor diet, or illness, probiotics can help restore that balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who should not take probiotics?<\/p>\n

\u201dProbiotics are considered safe for most healthy children and adults, but caution is warranted in immunocompromised people, critically ill or ICU patients, premature or very low-birth-weight infants, those with central venous catheters, and people with structural heart disease,\u201d warns Dr. Broder. \u201cIn these groups there have been reports of serious bloodstream infections. Anyone in these categories should talk to a clinician first.\u201d In fact, Dr. Kais advises that anyone thinking of starting an OTC probiotic should first discuss it with their healthcare team.<\/p>\n

What are the signs you need a probiotic? <\/p>\n

Here are the common signs your gut health may benefit from probiotics, according to experts:<\/p>\n

You have frequent bloating, gas, diarrhea, and\/or constipation<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Broder, one of the most common signs that you may benefit from probiotics is if you\u2019re experiencing digestive issues or IBS-type symptoms<\/a>\u2014such as bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and irregular bowel habits.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwinging between constipation and diarrhea, or just generally unpredictable bathroom habits, is one of the clearest gut-microbiome red flags I see in practice,\u201d Dr. Wijetilaka shares. She also flags frequent bloating and gas as one of the specific signs. \u201cIf you\u2019re regularly uncomfortably full or gassy after normal meals, it\u2019s often a sign your gut bacteria are out of balance and struggling to break food down efficiently,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, research shows<\/a> that taking probiotics may \u201cimprove bloating, abdominal discomfort, and stool regularity, though results vary and no single product works for everyone,\u201d says Dr. Broder. For example, \u201ccertain probiotic strains can help normalize bowel movements and ease the discomfort of constipation for some people\u201d\u2014and if you have ongoing diarrhea or a recent stomach bug, they \u201ccan modestly shorten how long symptoms last by helping restore normal gut flora,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

You recently took antibiotics<\/p>\n

\u201cAntibiotics<\/a> don\u2019t discriminate between harmful and beneficial bacteria, so they can wipe out a meaningful chunk of your gut flora along with the infection they\u2019re treating. This is one of the situations where I most confidently recommend a probiotic,\u201d says Dr. Wijetilaka.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Broder, studies show<\/a> that probiotic supplements specifically may be helpful for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. \u201cAntibiotics wipe out good bacteria along with the bad, which can trigger diarrhea,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis is one of the best-supported uses of probiotics\u2014starting them alongside antibiotics may reduce that risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

You have frequent colds or infections<\/p>\n

Getting sick often could be another sign that your gut health may need attention. \u201cA large portion of your immune system is trained and regulated in the gut, so if you feel like you\u2019re constantly getting sick, an imbalanced microbiome may be part of the picture,\u201d Dr. Wijetilaka explains. In fact, some studies suggest<\/a> that certain probiotic strains may reduce the risk or duration of upper-respiratory infections.<\/p>\n

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You have skin flare-ups<\/p>\n

\u201cConditions like acne<\/a>, eczema<\/a>, and rosacea<\/a> have a documented gut-skin connection. When I see patients with stubborn skin issues that haven\u2019t improved with topical treatment alone, I\u2019m always thinking about what’s happening in their gut,\u201d shares Dr. Wijetilaka. Ongoing research suggests<\/a> that certain strains of oral probiotics may support skin health and improve symptoms of some inflammatory skin conditions, including acne and eczema.<\/p>\n

You have low mood or brain fog <\/p>\n

\u201cThe gut produces a significant amount of the body\u2019s serotonin and communicates directly with the brain through the vagus nerve,\u201d Dr. Wijetilaka explains. \u201cPersistent low mood or difficulty concentrating, especially alongside digestive symptoms, is worth a closer look at gut health.\u201d Ongoing research on the gut\u2013brain axis<\/a> does indeed suggest that probiotics may influence mood and cognitive function\u2014for example, one 2025 study<\/a> found that a multispecies probiotic was associated with reduced negative mood in healthy adults after about two weeks.<\/p>\n

You have food intolerances<\/p>\n

Some studies suggest that certain probiotics may help manage food intolerances\u2014particularly lactose intolerance<\/a>. \u201cSome probiotics\u2014and fermented foods like yogurt and kefir<\/a>\u2014contain organisms that help break down lactose, which can reduce gas and bloating after dairy,\u201d Dr. Broder explains. \u201cKefir, for example, is often better tolerated<\/a> than plain milk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which probiotic should you take? <\/p>\n

When it comes to choosing a probiotic supplement to take, \u201cstrain specificity matters more than almost anything else,\u201d says Dr. Wijetilaka. \u201cDifferent strains do genuinely different jobs, so a probiotic marketed generically for \u2018gut health\u2019 without naming its strains is a red flag for me.\u201d She also advises checking that it\u2019s third-party tested and has a track record of published research. \u201cI look for products that disclose the exact species and strain (not just Lactobacillus, but which Lactobacillus), the CFU count, and whether that dose is backed by actual clinical research for the condition you\u2019re trying to address,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

One specific probiotic that Dr. Wijetilaka highly recommends is VSL#3<\/a>, a multi-strain probiotic medical food that\u2019s formulated for the dietary management of IBS, ulcerative colitis, and pouchitis that comes in three different forms\u2014capsules<\/a>, powder<\/a>., and double strength powder<\/a>. It\u2019s also Prevention\u2019s top choice for best overall probiotic for bloating<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost over-the-counter probiotics rely on just one or two strains, while VSL#3<\/a>\u2019s combination is designed to work across multiple points in the GI tract at once,\u201d Dr. Wijetilaka notes. \u201cIt\u2019s also dairy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO, which matters because a lot of my patients with gut issues are already sensitive to common trigger ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a diagnosed GI condition but still want \u201congoing, everyday support for regularity and digestion,\u201d Dr. Wijetilaka recommends the VSL#4 Gut capsules<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a lower-dose daily supplement rather than a medical food, so it\u2019s a nice option for maintenance once someone\u2019s more significant symptoms have been addressed with VSL#3<\/a>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Currently, you can take 15% off VSL Probiotics supplements<\/a> with the code PREVENT15. Just apply the code when checking out your online shopping cart.<\/p>\n

While VSL#3<\/a> is our top choice for bloating, there are a variety of other probiotics that also come recommended by experts. Some of our top choices for the best probiotics for bloating<\/a> and best probiotics for women<\/a> include Culturelle Digestive Daily Probiotic<\/a>, Align Probiotic Pro Formula<\/a>, and Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Once Daily Women’s Probiotics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider.<\/p>\n