Highlights: 

• The most common summer ailments to protect yourself from 

• How synbiotics help us fight various gastrointestinal issues 

• Key steps and habits that keep our immune system strong during the summer heat 

Summer – the season of travel, fresh fruits, beaches, and long evenings outdoors. But while we’re busy planning our adventures, we often forget about one thing that also needs “preparation” – our gut. Rising temperatures, changes in diet, and traveling to new places are just some of the factors that can disrupt the balance of our digestive system. 

In fact, many of the gastrointestinal issues we face during the summer aren’t due to “spoiled food,” but rather to an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in our gut. And this directly affects not only digestion, but also our immune system, mood, and even our skin. 

This is where synbiotics come into play. The combination of probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (their food source) makes them a powerful ally in supporting gut health  

But how exactly do they work? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how synbiotics like B-Protekt can help prevent common summer ailments and keep us healthy during the warmer months. 

Traveler’s diarrhea  

Who doesn’t love to travel in the summer? New adventures, new flavors, new memories—and sometimes, new gut problems. One of the most unpleasant and common stowaways in your luggage is traveler’s diarrhea. It may sound harmless, but it can ruin your plans within the first few days of your vacation. 

This condition usually appears within the first few days after arriving in a new country or region—especially if the destination has poor hygiene, questionable drinking water, or inadequate food preparation. The most common cause? A bacterial infection—usually from Escherichia coli. It can be enough to drink a beverage with contaminated ice, eat fruit washed with tap water, or try some street food. 

What follows? Frequent bowel movements, abdominal pain and cramps, fatigue, loss of appetite—and sometimes even a slight fever. Just when you want to relax, you find yourself stuck in the bathroom and searching for the nearest pharmacy instead of the nearest beach. 

Synbiotics can play a key role in recovery from such issues. They don’t treat the infection directly, but they create gut conditions where harmful bacteria struggle to survive. The beneficial microorganisms compete with them for space and resources—essentially “closing the door” on them. They also strengthen the protective barrier of the intestinal lining and suppress inflammation—two crucial mechanisms for managing symptoms. As a result, they don’t just shorten the duration of the discomfort—they often prevent it right from the start.  

Food poisoning  

In summer, our appetite is often driven by emotion. But the same warmth that helps us relax also creates the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. Just a few hours outside the fridge are enough to turn a meal into a source of infection. And that’s how one of the most common and unpleasant conditions arises—food poisoning. 

Symptoms can appear just a few hours after eating—nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and sometimes fever. The usual culprits are Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, or toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens. These not only attack the intestinal lining but also disrupt the electrolyte balance, which can lead to dehydration—especially dangerous for children and the elderly. 

This is precisely where synbiotics prove extremely helpful. When taken regularly, they help restore the microbial balance disrupted during an infection. The beneficial bacteria in synbiotics prevent harmful microorganisms from settling and multiplying in the gut. They also boost the production of short-chain fatty acids, which nourish the intestinal lining and speed up its recovery. And the prebiotics act as “fuel” to keep the good bacteria active at the most critical moment.  

Bloating and constipation 

You haven’t eaten greasy food, nor have you overeaten—yet your stomach still feels bloated and tight? You feel heavy after every meal, even if you only had a salad? In summer, these symptoms are much more common than we think, and they’re often due not so much to the food itself, but to the heat. 

When temperatures rise, our body tries to cool down—blood is redirected from the internal organs to the skin to release heat. As a result, the digestive system slows down, peristalsis becomes sluggish, and dehydration makes things worse. Add in fizzy drinks, ice cream, and foods with low fiber content, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for bloating, constipation, and general discomfort. 

Synbiotics can be a real solution to this imbalance. They support the breakdown of food residues that would otherwise ferment and produce gas. In addition, they help maintain normal intestinal peristalsis and reduce inflammation in the gut lining. The result is lighter and more regular digestion—even on the hottest days.  

Skin irritations and rashes 

Summer is the season of exposed skin – tan, sea, pools, sunscreen, sweat, and cosmetic products. But along with these pleasures often come some unwanted guests: small pimples, redness, itching, or flare-ups of existing conditions like acne and eczema. Heat, sweating, and impurities create the perfect environment for skin irritations – especially if the skin barrier is compromised. 

Something not widely known but extremely important is that the condition of your skin greatly depends on what’s happening in your gut. An imbalanced microbiome can trigger increased systemic inflammation and activate immune responses that manifest on the skin. This is the so-called gut-skin axis, a concept that more and more dermatologists and gastroenterologists are talking about. 

Synbiotics act as internal support for the skin by balancing the gut flora and reducing the “spillover” of inflammation from the gut to the rest of the body. When the gut barrier is healthy, the immune system is more resilient, and the skin reacts less to external irritants. That means fewer rashes, less itching, and fewer unexpected flare-ups that could make you want to hide from the sun instead of enjoying it.  

Weakened immunity  

For some people, summer can be summed up in a few words: irregular sleep, late nights out, more alcohol, and less healthy food. As a result of this lifestyle, symptoms may develop that aren’t immediately associated with a weakened immune system: frequent cold sores, skin rashes, slow-healing wounds, a feeling of fatigue, or getting tired easily. These are signs that immunity is compromised—even without the classic “cold.” 

The gut microbiome is directly linked to the body’s ability to defend itself. A well-balanced flora sends signals to immune cells, helps them distinguish between harmful and harmless substances, and keeps the intestinal lining stable. When this balance is disrupted—after a party with heavy alcohol intake, a few days of irregular eating, or dehydration—the body’s defense mechanisms weaken.  

Synbiotics help maintain this balance by encouraging the growth of good bacteria and strengthening the gut’s natural defenses. But for the immune system to truly function well, synbiotics should be combined with other key practices: 

• Quality sleep, which restores immune regulation and lowers stress hormone levels 

• Regular outdoor physical activity, which improves circulation and lymphatic drainage 

• Hydration, without which no cell can function optimally 

• A diet rich in antioxidants and fiber, which nourish the microbiome and reduce inflammation 

• Reducing alcohol and sugar, which directly suppress the immune system and damage the intestinal barrier  

True immune strength doesn’t come from a single capsule or a single “superfood,” but from the synergy between healthy habits. A synbiotic is an important part of that picture—but only when it’s part of a broader approach to wellness do the real results become noticeable. 

Summer is a time for movement, freedom, and enjoyment—but it’s also a season when our bodies face various stressors: heat, food risks, dehydration, and changes in routine. A healthy digestive tract is the foundation for everything—from strong immunity to a good mood. That’s why maintaining gut balance should never be underestimated. 

The synbiotic B-Protekt combines carefully selected probiotic strains with active prebiotic ingredients that work in synergy to keep your gut healthy—whether you’re traveling, at the beach, or in the office. Because when your microbiome is in balance, summer feels better—inside and out.  

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FAQ: 

1. Can I take a synbiotic along with probiotic foods like yogurt or fermented vegetables (pickles)? 

• Yes, you can. Synbiotics and probiotic foods do not interfere with each other—on the contrary, they often complement one another. Fermented products like yogurt, kefir, or pickles contain live bacteria, but their composition is not as precisely balanced as that of a synbiotic supplement. Taking them together can provide a broader spectrum of beneficial microorganisms, especially when part of a varied diet. 

2. Can a synbiotic be taken for a long period, or should breaks be made? 

• Generally, synbiotics are suitable for daily use, especially when they contain clinically tested strains. However, for healthy individuals without specific digestive or immune issues, it’s a good practice to take short breaks—such as 1–2 weeks after every 2–3 months of use. This allows the body to maintain its natural regulation of the microbiota without relying entirely on external support. 

3. Does it matter what time of day the synbiotic is taken? 

• Yes – for best results, synbiotics are recommended on an empty stomach, typically 30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after. This improves the survival rate of the bacteria, as stomach acidity is lower. If the product uses gastro-resistant capsules, it can also be taken with food, but it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 

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Sources:  

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7071171

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00547/full

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/9/3075

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8708162

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2439

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