Do probiotics help occasional gas and bloating?

Each one of us has our own unique microbiome that is shaped by a variety of factors—from diet to exercise, stress levels, and more.

Your microbiome consists of all the bacterial and viral microorganisms that live on your skin, fingernails, mouths, eyes, genitals, and perhaps most importantly, in your gut.

The amount of "good" bacteria in our gut help us break down indigestible fiber, making more nutrients available to us. And, in the process, they produce short-chain fatty acids and vitamins that we can absorb.

The purpose of probiotic supplements is to deliver more "good" bacteria to the gut, helping maintain a healthy microbial population. So, as an integral part of the digestive system, maintaining a healthy microbiome with probiotic supplements supports digestive health.

Bloating can occur for many reasons, but it is often due to excess gas trapped in the gastrointestinal tract or "excessive fermentation,"

"Typically, bloating is caused by an imbalance of good-to-bad bacteria in your gut. There are few hundred bacterial species that work to aid with digestion, and external factors such as medication use, stress, travel, and poor diet can easily disrupt your normal digestive process and cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

We do know that taking probiotics on a regular basis can support a healthy microbial balance in the gut, which can prevent or alleviate bloating. So, yes, probiotics can help alleviate gas and bloating.