Can you overdose on probiotics?
Probiotics are phenomenally popular these days. While fermented foods and probiotic drinks (i.e yogurt drinks) have been around for a very long time (kefir and the like being of ancient origin), modern probiotic supplements are relatively new. Yet they have quickly become as ubiquitous as protein shakes and other "health supplements". The best probiotic for men today is consumed about as widely as the most popular protein bar, which is really saying something.
With so many peope out there consuming all of these probiotic products and probioic supplements on a daily basis, it is worth stopping and asking the question: can you overdose on probiotics?
Overdosing is not something we usually associate with natural supplements or so-called "health foods". An overdose is something we typically only talk about in the context of hard pharmaceutical drugs.
While the word overdose may not have the same gravity in the context of natural supplements like probiotics, you can definitely overdose on natural supplements; probiotics included.
How much probiotics is too much?
A better way of asking "can you overdose on probiotics?" is "how much is too much?"
After all, you can technically "overdose" on any substance (water included) if you consum enough of it. When we ask about overdosing on a given substance, we usually mean "is it easy to overdose on this supplement", or "how dangerous are the risks of taking this probioic?"
So, how much is too much when it comes to probiotic supplements?
Generally speaking, probiotics are not meant to be consumed in large quantites for long periods of time. Probiotics are, after all, supplements which deliver vey large doses of unusual bacteria strains; typically, probiotics will contain far more bacteria than your average bowl of kimchi, and a much wider variety of bacteria species than a common yogurt drink. As such, probiotic supplements tend to have a much bigger impact on the composition of your gut microbiome than fermented foods.
This is why probiotics can cause much more serious and noticeable side effects than simply consuming more fermented foods. it is also why you should not be consuming heavy-duty probiotic supplements every day for long periods of time without break. Put another way, the nature of probiotics mean that you can definitely overdose on them.
What are the consequences of a probiotic overdose?
Probiotic overdose side effects
If you overdose on probiotics, you will likely experience the following side effects:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Disturbed sleep
- Fatigue
This may not sound like an overdose to many of you, but it is. These side effects will usually dissipate after you stop taking the probiotic.
In short, you cannot overdose on probiotics to the point where it causes death. But consuming probiotics every day for many weeks will cause side effects. Common side effects of too many probiotics include bloating, gas, and nausea.