If you are taking a probiotic, you may experience unwanted symptoms.

Side effects are normal when dealing with gut health.

Probiotic supplements and foods may lower risk of infections, improve digestion and chronic diseases. But you can tell you’re on a probiotic.

5 side effects you may experience:

Digestive- Temporary increase in gas and bloating. Yeast-based probiotics can cause constipation and increased thirst.

Headaches- Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi contain biogenic amines. Biogenic amines are substances that form when protein containing foods age or are fermented with bacteria. Animes can cause an increase or decrease in blood flow and may trigger headaches. Keep a food diary just in case, so you can eliminate foods that are an issue.

Histamine- Can cause an increase in your histamine levels. Your blood vessels dilate to bring more blood to an affected area. Some bacterial strains in probiotics produce histamines which are produced by your im mune system. This happens when our system detects a “threat.” This can create allergy type symptoms including difficulty breathing.

Allergens- Some probiotics contain allergens such as dairy, egg or soy. Be mindful if you are allergic to these and always check the labels prior to purchasing.

Infection risk- People with a history of prolonged hospitalizations, venous catheters, undergone recent surgeries, and suppressed immune systems, check with your doctor prior to use. Some bacteria and yeasts found in probiotics can enter the bloodstream and cause infection in susceptible individuals. It is estimated about one in one million people can develop an infection.

To reduce some of your symptoms, start with lower doses and slowly increase to a full dosage over the weeks.

As always, consult with your doctor before making any dietary changes.

Tell me about your probiotic journey at Jewel.lexchron@gmail.com.