Side Effects Of Taking Probiotics You Never Expected

If it feels like yogurt, kombucha, and kimchi seem to be getting a fair share of health praise these days, it's likely because of their association with probiotics. According to WebMD, probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are especially healthy for your digestive system. They can be found in the above mentioned foods, and in addition, sauerkraut, miso, sourdough bread, and pickles. As well as finding them in different food sources, they can also be found in pill, powder and shot forms.  As Cleveland Clinic states, probiotics are generally considered safe because they naturally already exist in your body.

So what we're understanding is that probiotics are healthy, natural, and getting a lot of praise. All true, but before you start topping everything you eat with pickles, or drinking yogurt like it is water, there are a few side effects you should know about before taking probiotics.

Yes, this healthy bacteria and yeast may be naturally found in your gut, but as Cleveland Clinic states, consuming more of them may lead to allergic reactions, diarrhea, increased gas and bloat, or an upset stomach.

Another unexpected side effect you may experience from consuming probiotics is headaches. If you suffer from constant headaches, you might have the probiotics in your diet to blame. According to Healthline, probiotic-rich foods contain biogenic amines such as histamine, tyramine, tryptamine and phenylethylamine. These amines are known to excite the central nervous system and increase or decrease the blood flowing through your body. And this sudden fluctuation can cause the aching, annoying, and distracting pain in our heads we like to summarize as headaches.

Not all side effects are negative. In fact, there is a surprisingly positive feature to a diet rich in probiotics, and that is better skin. "Probiotics also work from the inside out," explains Dr. Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist, doctor of internal medicine, and founder of the probiotic-based skincare line, Tula, to Byrdie. "By maintaining a healthy bacterial balance in the gut, probiotics can reduce overall body inflammation that may cause skin sensitivity, or even acne or rosacea."

The healthy gut trend of consuming probiotics will likely stay trending for a good amount of time. So just stay on the lookout for any noticeable changes or negative symptoms you experience if you are introducing or increasing the amount of this healthy bacteria to your diet. And thank your lucky stars if probiotics turn out to be the magical ingredient to clear up an issue you were having with your skin.