Three Reasons I Started Taking Probiotics

This post has been sponsored by Renew Life®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A couple months back, I was experiencing severe digestive issues: AKA I could not poop for a week. I shared my journey on Instagram and found out that so many of my friends and followers experience the same issues—and they had some great tips and solutions to help. I’ve been incorporating more fiber into my diet, drinking more water and taking a daily probiotic.

If you’re struggling with similar issues, you have to get your fiber. I get my fiber through a combination of greens and fiber pills, drink at least half my weight in ounces of water, and balance the bacteria in my gut—and for me, this works best with Renew Life® Ultimate Flora™ Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion.

There are a lot of ways to get the good bacteria into your system, but since I hate fermented dairy products or any fermented food for that matter, which aid with digestion, I needed a daily probiotic to help restore digestive balance. I’ve been using Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion. I chose this daily version as it has more live probiotic cultures and 12 probiotic strains—a potent formula my body needs.The best part? Renew Life Extra Care is extremely accessible – I picked my bottle up in store at my local Walmart, but you can also order online at Walmart.com! The package may have changed, but the same great product is inside.

Read on for how probiotics help your overall health and wellbeing (and how it’s helped me):

Keeps Body Weight and Bloat in Check

If you’re not experiencing regular bowel movements, you’re going to experience gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating and constipation. I’ve experienced so much bloating and discomfort, making it hard for me to work out and really enjoy doing anything beyond resting. It’s a never-ending cycle since not moving isn’t doing your body any favors either.

I’ve tried laxatives and stool softeners, and they’re not a healthy long-term solution. And they eventually stopped working. Luckily, Renew Life Extra Care has eased constipation—which has given me more energy and virtually eliminated my constant bloat. I take Renew Life every evening now and am finally back to a more regular schedule without bloat.

Enhances My Nutrient Absorption

You can eat all the healthy foods you want but without a healthy gut, your body may not even be absorbing it. Probiotics can help with absorbing protein, vitamins, and other nutrients, so it’s important to prioritize gut health since they help break food down, making it easier for your body to absorb. And of course, you have to start first with consuming the right foods and balanced meals. This has been a huge issue part of my constipation issues since I could feel how it affected my energy levels. I felt tired and sick, and it instantly changed once I made a few changes in my diet and added probiotics.

Increases Energy, Reduces Stress

I work out five to six days a week but when I’m constipated, I immediately feel tired and unmotivated during a workout. It’s like all the energy has been zapped out of me even though I ate healthy and drank plenty of water. And I feel more anxious and stressed, which is a shame since I’m already an anxious and stressed person. I feel so much more at ease when my gut health is in check, and this was even more necessary around the holidays with the stress, traveling and parties.If you’re looking to help your body reset this new year and just feel better overall, it starts with gut health. You can find Renew Life Extra Care at Walmart in-store or online. And it has new packaging— it’s the same product, just a refreshed look!

Photography by Susan Hamilton