6 Month Probiotic Update
I’ve taken SEED Synbiotic (Probiotic + Prebiotic) for more than half a year now. Here is what I have learned so far.
Disclosure: Old World New uses affiliate links.
About 8 months ago, I wrote about becoming the start of my Seed Synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic) journey. I’ve taken them for the majority of the time since I started them. Here’s a little refresher:
- 50% of our bodies are made up of microorganisms – we’re half human and half microbial. Thus, your body is its own microbiome. This means that you have a lot of good and bad bacteria that influences your body.
- Clinically studied and proven effective probiotics like Seed Synbiotic help influence a healthier microbe. This is done by benefiting the gut with good bacteria, which then influences overall systemic health.
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Seed Synbiotic (Probiotic + Prebiotic) 6 Month Update
Probiotics are not a MAGIC PILL
While probiotics (and in this case, a synbiotic) are all about holistic health, they are not a cure-all. I was so happy to see SEED educating everyone who follows them on social media and through their newsletter about how probiotics will not prevent COVID or other illnesses. To be an effective probiotic product, there must be proven health benefits as a result of taking them. Gut health does not exist in a vacuum. Like many other body parts and functions, it can influence much more than itself. Gut health can have an impact on the immune system, heart health, brain health, and improve mood & sleep (source). Taking probiotics has the potential to improve these area that are influenced by the gut. Seed probiotics are more likely to do that than others. But probiotics are not a cure.
Can You Take Probiotics and Antibiotics Together?
During the month of January and February, I was sick but doctors didn’t know what was causing me to be sick. It was worse than a cold but not quiet the Flu or Strep. I wondered if it could have been COVID before it was well-known, as I did have trouble breathing, but I just have to assume that it was some milder respiratory issue. The first set of antibiotics, I took my probiotic with them. I was sick again a month later (never really fully better), so that time I didn’t take the probiotics. My health improved, but I was still meh. Now, I just feel like I was dealing with incompetent healthcare providers when it came to figuring out what was truly wrong with me, and that taking the probiotics didn’t truly interfere. When I asked the professionals at Seed, this is what they told me:
“During and after antibiotic use is a good time for probiotics, as numerous studies have shown their effectiveness in preventing gastrointestinal distress and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. It’s important to note, though, that probiotics are beneficial organisms that are also susceptible to being killed off by antibiotics—most strongly by ampicillin, gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetryacycline. In a study analyzing common probiotic species’ survival against 44 different antibiotics, broad spectrum antibiotics were the most potent at killing off probiotic species. Therefore, we would recommend that while you are on an antibiotic course, to space your antibiotic as far apart from your probiotic as possible, i.e. one in the morning and one in the evening.
We also suggest consulting your doctor about any changes to your health habits while you’re undergoing any kind of treatment.”
Adding Other Supplements
I started taking a B vitamin and Ashwaganda to help with my energy and mood, and I researched on the Seed website first because since it is the only supplement that I take regularly. The FAQ page filled me in and I was happy to learn that it is safe to take other supplements along with my Seed synbiotic.
These are the few lessons I’ve learned about probiotics along the way. Seed also provided amazing information on their website. They put the science first which makes it easy to understand why the symbiotic is effective. I’m still so glad to be an affiliate for them!
What is your experience with probiotics, or are you new to them? Let me know in the comments below!