Do Probiotics Make You Poop?

Published June 10, 2022

If you’re having a hard time defecating, you’ve probably turned to laxatives. But even though they’re effective for a time, they can only do so much. Besides, they can harm your digestive system in the long run.

Then maybe it’s time you try probiotics.

Wait, probiotics? Aren’t they for diarrhea? Do probiotics make you poop too?

Yes, probiotics do make you poop. In fact, it’s scientifically proven to help relieve constipation, especially if it’s caused by IBS, pregnancy, or medications. But unlike laxatives, it does not stimulate bowel movement. Instead, it regulates your digestion to help the stool pass through your body more easily.

To help you understand more about how probiotics can help with constipation, you first need to understand how they work.

Why Do Probiotics Make You Poop?

Also known as the “good bacteria”, probiotics are live microorganisms that help your body fight off bad bacteria. They are naturally present in our bodies but we can get them from foods and supplements too.

Probiotics work by restoring the balance in our microbiome, or the bacterial population in our body. This also restores our normal digestive function which, in turn, helps us have a more regular bowel movement.

The Role of Bacteria in the Digestion Process

If you didn’t know, our body is host to trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. Collectively, they are what we call our microbiome.

These clusters of bacteria are found in different parts of our body like the mouth, nose, and skin. But the largest of these bacterial populations resides in our guts.

Our gut bacteria play a vital role in our digestive function. Aside from helping digest the foods we eat, it also enables us to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat.

Certain types of gut bacteria can also digest fiber and non-digestible carbohydrates. This produces short-chain fatty acids which play a vital role in metabolism and colon health.

When the healthy balance of bacteria in your gut microbiome is disturbed, it can cause dysbiosis. The bad bacteria can take over and choke out the good ones. This, in turn, disrupts our body’s normal digestive function.

With no beneficial bacteria to digest our food or help absorb their nutrients, our digestive system cannot function properly. This leads to health issues like diarrhea, constipation, and chronic digestive disorders.

How Probiotics Can Help You Poop

As mentioned, probiotics restore the healthy balance of bacteria in your microbiota. They replenish the beneficial bacteria lost during dysbiosis.

The more good bacteria there is in your gut, the better they’ll be able to fight off their harmful counterparts. You’ll also have more bacteria to digest your food, especially non-digestible carbohydrates.

As a result, your body will also have enough supply of short-chain fatty acids. When absorbed by the body, short-chain fatty acids speed up and stimulate colon motility. This, in turn, improves our defecation frequency and stool consistency.

In short, the more good bacteria we have in our guts, the lesser is our risk for constipation.