There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are associated with less belly fat and a shrinking waistline — including vitamin D, calcium, and metabolism-boosting B vitamins.
But there is one supplement that truly stands out for its ability to literally help change your gut — which is the source of inflammation and can hold the secret to weight loss and fat burning: probiotics.
And, as it turns out, the time of day you take your probiotics supplement or eat probiotic-rich food makes a world of difference when it comes to how your body responds to it.
Many of us are used to waking up and taking all of our supplements all at once — just so we won’t forget about them. Morning isn’t always the ideal time to take certain vitamins and minerals, but when it comes to your probiotic supplement — it’s the perfect time.
“Research shows that the best time to take probiotics is just before a meal or as you begin your meal,” Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, told Well + Good. “This is the time when your stomach environment is at its least acidic, because your body has not yet begun to produce stomach acid in large quantities to digest your food. Taking your probiotics at this time will make their passage to your gut a little easier, and ensure you get the most from those beneficial bacteria.”
When you take a probiotic, it introduces good, beneficial bacteria to your gut that helps balance the levels of good and bad bacteria your body is harboring. As a result, this supplement can fight inflammation, improve digestion, and even put you in a better mood, according to one study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Taking a probiotic supplement is an easy way to get your daily fill of probiotics, but if you prefer to obtain nutrients from foods, there are plenty of options that work. Include low-fat yogurt in your breakfast, pour yourself a glass of kombucha or kefir, or grill tempeh and toss it into your veggie omelette.