A renowned nutritional scientist has lifted the lid on the benefits on taking supplements. Dr Megan Rossi, also known as the Gut Health Doctor, said it was ‘rare that I will go a day’ without being asked about probiotic supplements.
Prebiotics are plant-based fibers that are used to feed your good gut bacteria, theoretically enabling them to grow stronger and healthier over time. And with more awareness than ever around gut health, they are surging in popularity.
Dr Rossi, who is an award-winning scientist at King’s College London, said that taking a daily probitoic supplement ‘in the name of good gut health is outdated’. But she did say that there were times that they were still worth taking.
She issued three steps she felt people should take before taking prebiotic supplements. She said: “It’s rare that I will go a day without someone asking me about probiotic supplements.
“Here’s the truth. The idea that you should take a daily probitoic supplement in the name of ‘good gut’ health is OUTDATED. It is one of my biggest bugbears, and if you’ve been here for a while, you might have already heard me say that there’s currently no evidence that taking a general probiotic will do anything good for your gut (eating more diverse plants and fermented food is the way to actually achieve that).
“But that’s not to say I don’t ever recommend probiotic supplements (I did my PhD in this area so it’s something I’m super passionate about because I know how effective they can be when used correctly). Just as you wouldn’t take a vitamin D supplement for an iron deficiency, when it comes to probiotics you need to take the right strain (type of bacteria), at the right time, in the right way.
“For instance, while there is no convincing evidence for an oral probiotic to treat acne, there’s growing evidence for probiotics in preventing ezecma, and even better evidence for taking a specific strain to help reduce your risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (loose poops when you take antibiotics, which affects around 30% of people).
So here’s my advice before handing over your hard-earned cash for probiotic supplements. Always check that there is a clinical trial (placebo-controlled study in humans) to back the exact strain for the outcome you want e.g. for preventing side effects of antibiotics. Make sure no extra strains are added that haven’t been tested together (as they can compete with each other). Check the ingredient list for unnecessary extras e.g. added sugar (look for dextrose) and emulsifiers (found in some leading baby probiotics!).”