Take probiotics every day, is it safe for the body?

Consumption of drinks containing probiotics has various benefits for the health of the digestive system. Even so, drinking excess probiotic drinks can also affect the balance of the number of bacteria in the body. So, is it safe to consume probiotic drinks every day?

Various types of probiotic drinks that are often consumed

There are many types of probiotic drinks, because the ingredients and bacteria used in their manufacture also vary. Therefore, you need to know the type first to prevent excessive consumption.

Here are some types of probiotic drinks that are often consumed:

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is made from fermented milk with bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. These bacteria produce lactic acid which lowers the acidity of the milk and makes the texture clumpy.

2. Kombucha

Apart from milk, the probiotic drinks you drink can also come from tea. Kombucha is fermented black or green tea with a mixture of bacteria and yeast fungi. The final product of fermentation is usually added with sugar.

3. Kefir

Kefir is made by mixing kefir powder into cow or goat's milk. Kefir powder is made from a mixture of bacteria, yeast fungi, a type of milk protein called casein, and sugar.

4. Buttermilk

Buttermilk are various types of probiotic drinks that are made through fermentation of the liquid leftover from making butter. This product is low in calories and fat and contains lots of vitamin B12, calcium and phosphorus.

Safe limits for drinking probiotic products

The safe limit for consumption of probiotic products is determined by the number of groups / colonies of bacteria in a product. The unit is called colony-forming units (CFU).

The recommended intake of probiotics for adults is 5-20 billion CFU per day. For comparison, here is the average number of bacterial colonies in various probiotic products:

Yogurt: 4.8-9.50 billion CFU / mL
Kefir: 10 billion CFU / mL
Probiotic supplement: 48.2 billion CFU / mL
Kombucha: 5,000-500,000 CFU / mL

However, probiotic products on the market usually contain fewer bacterial colonies. You can still drink yogurt, kefir, or kombucha every day.

What you need to pay attention to is the number of calories, total sugar, and additives in the products you consume. If you have a cow's milk allergy or lactose intolerance, talk to your doctor before taking probiotic products.

Effects of drinking probiotic products

Your digestive tract is a habitat for various types of good bacteria and bad bacteria. The function of probiotics is to balance these two bacteria so that the digestive system runs smoothly and is protected from disease.

However, pay attention to the number of probiotic drinks you drink. The side effects of probiotics usually don't cause serious problems in healthy people, but people with weak immune systems can experience the following effects:

Excess gas production in the gastrointestinal tract which triggers bloating and abdominal pain
The interaction between specific proteins in probiotics with the nervous system, causing headaches
Increased histamine compounds that cause allergic reactions
Indigestion due to intolerance to probiotics
Risk of probiotic bacterial infection
Bacterial growth in the small intestine

The number of bacterial colonies can vary from product to product. In addition, not all products include the number of bacterial colonies contained in them. This is of course an obstacle when you want to monitor your probiotic intake.

The safest way to control your probiotic intake is to limit the products you drink. In order not to cause side effects, limit your consumption of probiotic drinks to no more than one serving per day.