NICE suggests taking probiotics for at least four weeks, at a dose recommended by the manufacturer, if you have IBS-associated bloating.
According to Amine Ould-Laib, a nutritionist at food allergy and dietary app Spoon Guru, probiotics work by digesting the plant-fibre in our diet, producing short-chain fats which are thought to have protective effects against colon cancer.
“They also work by competing with the bad bacteria in our guts, keeping them under control,” Ould-Laib said.
This is especially important if your diet is poor or you are taking a long-term course of antibiotics, which can lead to bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.