Probiotic

[happygirl]

I am thinking about taking a probiotic and would be interested to know what type you take, who makes it, and what it is supposed to do.

I am becoming micro-sensitive....have been glutened at every "gluten-free" place there is (and I barely eat out). I feel like I need some extra help because of the accidental glutenings. I'm really frustrated right now!

I would appreciate any insight....Thanks guys!

[CeliaCruz]

I just started taking probiotics three days ago and I am very pleased. Even though I haven't glutened myself in a while I still get these inexplicable bouts of diarrhea related -- I think -- to a round of antibiotics that I took recently. The probiotics brought me immediate relief and my digestion has been remarkably steady lately.

I bought mine from Trader Joe's -- they are the storebrand and, according to their website, are glutenfree as are all of their storebrand supplements. I'm at work right now so I don't have all the details in front of me but if you want to PM me, I can give you more information when I get home.

[happygirl]

celiacruz-thank you so much! I would really appreciate any help. I think I am going to entirely have to cut out eating out (yes, I am crying over this thought). But, I think probiotics might be able to help with healing.

[Lollie]

I have a question too! I saw a commercial about probiotics being in yogurt, I bought some at whole foods. The claim is give them a try for two weeks, and they are supposed to regulate your digestion.....

Anybody know anything about that? I thought it can't hurt!

Lollie

[penguin]

I have a question too! I saw a commercial about probiotics being in yogurt, I bought some at whole foods. The claim is give them a try for two weeks, and they are supposed to regulate your digestion.....

Anybody know anything about that? I thought it can't hurt!

Lollie

Probiotics are just good bacteria, and the bacteria is what makes the yogurt, well, yogurt. When it says active cultures, the cultures are bacteria.

My mom's been forcing yogurt on me for years whenever I've had stomach problems. Now she's moved on to her grandkids

Like, when you have the stomach flu (w/D especially) or like us, chronic D, all of the good bacteria gets wiped out of your digestive tract.

The bacteria are instrumental in helping you digest food and moving things along properly.

Also, if you take antibiotics and you eat yogurt, it helps things. Especially if you're a girl, it keeps you from getting yeast infections on antibiotics

If you look at what probiotics have in them, it's usually acidophylus (sp). This is one of usually 6-8 bacteria found in yogurt.

Yogurt is alive!

[gf4life]

I take Jarro brand pro-biotics. They have quite a selection. I usually take both the Jarro-Dophilus and the Bifidus Balance +FOS.

I also use digestive enzymes. I still have a hard time digesting foods high in protein and some other stuff. I consider taking a food sensitivity test through someplace like York and see what else I have problems with, but I have narrowed it down to a few things, like guar gum, onions, garlic, tomatoes, beef, pork, and I am sure there are more. The digestive enzymes help me digest those things, and also seem to help lessen the effects if I accidentally get glutened. If I do know that I had gluten before the reaction starts, then I chug down a handful (really only 4-5 tablets!) with a 12 oz jar of tonic water and usually on,y have one day of minor D, with a few days of feeling dragged down. If I don't know until after the fact, then I suffer for 2 weeks! It makes a huge difference for me. It might be helpful to keep the digestive enzymes on hand and take them when you do eat out. I use a few different kinds. Both are gluten free according to the companies. The first is made by Pioneer and is called Digestive Enzymes with Herbs, and the other is by Enzymedica and is called Digest and also has some probiotics in it (Lactocacillus Acidophilus and L. Bifidus). They are both vegetarian plant based enzymes that are supposed to help break down protein, fats, carbs, milk sugar (lactose), and fiber. I can't tolerate the ones made with animal bile. Yuck!

I hope you start feeling better soon.

[jerseyangel]

I'm thinking of taking these, too. Are there any situations where they could make things worse--like cause D or anything like that?

[penguin]

I'm thinking of taking these, too. Are there any situations where they could make things worse--like cause D or anything like that?

Be careful about taking too much. There can be too much of a good thing, and an overgrowth of good bacteria is almost as bad as an overgrowth of bad bacteria! Remember that probiotics are living bacteria!

There's definitely a balance that needs to be attained in the digestive tract.

[Lollie]

Thanks for the info. I have always eaten yogurt when I take antibiotics, and now I make my little girls eat it too. I let ya'll know if the yogurt for a two week trial works! I prefer to get what I need from food instead of suppliments, I just hate taking pills!

Lollie

[VydorScope]

My wife is taking anitbotics right now, should we run out and buy her some yogurt then?

[Lollie]

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!

Believe me I'd rather eat some yogurt, then have to do the counter measures for the yeast infection!

But that's just me.......

Lollie

[jerseyangel]

Vincent--yes, that would be a good idea. Antibiotics can be brutal to her digestive system. Make sure it says active yogurt cultures on the label. And, stop trying to sue everybody

[VydorScope]

Vincent--yes, that would be a good idea. Antibiotics can be brutal to her digestive system. Make sure it says active yogurt cultures on the label. And, stop trying to sue everybody

HOw else am I sposed to pay for all these gluten-free speicality foods!

OKay sooo say your in a normal grocery store, would like the store brand be okay?

[penguin]

HOw else am I sposed to pay for all these gluten-free speicality foods!

OKay sooo say your in a normal grocery store, would like the store brand be okay?

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOURSELF AND GET HER SOME DARN YOGURT!!!!

Yeast infections are 100x worse than pms, mood wise.

Store brand is fine, I think it's safe to say that all yogurt has live cultures. It'll say "contains live cultures" or something to that effect on the package

[jerseyangel]

She dosen't have to worry about gluten, right? Then it should be fine. Hope she feels better soon!

[VydorScope]

She dosen't have to worry about gluten, right? Then it should be fine. Hope she feels better soon!

She doesnt, but our store brand is gluten-free. Our toddler realy likes Cherry Vannila. Thanks this is first i have heard of all this. They should prescirbe yogurt with the anti-botics!

[jerseyangel]

Actually, when my son had an infection in his foot, the podiatrist told us to give him yogurt with his antibiotics--and you're right, they all should do that.

[Lollie]

My doc does! You know you should eat it too! Just in case.....

Lollie

[penguin]

Finally figured out what the name of my yogurt was, because I ate some

I eat Cascade Fresh because it says gluten free right on the package and it has 8 active cultures instead of the standard 6. It's clutured right in the cup and it's pretty good. I got it at whole foods.

EDIT: wow, sounds like I'm advertising! I'm not, I have no financial interest in them, I'm just in it for the extra cultures

[munchkinette]

I also take the Acidophilus pills from Trader Joe's. There ARE a few supplements that have gluten in them, but only like 2 or 3.

I actually had no idea that gluten intolerant people should be taking these in general for digestion. I was just taking them anyway since I'm taking antibiotics right now. (and I can't eat yogurt)

[lonewolf]

If the yogurt has a lot of sugar it kind of negates the benefits of the cultures. Plain yogurt is best, sweetened with a little fruit or stevia. After finishing a course of antibiotics, it's a good idea to take a high dose for seven days and then take a maintenance dose daily for a month, at least. My doc then suggests taking probiotics a couple of times a week to keep up the balance of good - bad bacteria.

I take Primadophilus - one a day on an empty stomach. It's good quality. Some of the cheaper probiotics don't actually have any live cultures left in them.

[marciab]

I emailed Dannon about their Danactive (by Dannon) being gluten free and here is their reply -

Thank you for contacting The Dannon Company, Inc. We sincerely appreciate

your interest in Dannon yogurt products and gluten.

Dannon yogurt products are characterized as either gluten safe or not gluten

safe. Our Dannon Plain Lowfat, Plain Nonfat and Plain Natural are all

gluten safe. All other Dannon yogurts cannot be designated as gluten safe

because the natural flavor systems used might have ingredients added to

stabilize the flavor. The stabilizing ingredients may be derived from

gluten sources.

For our valued consumers that may have allergenic risks associated with

gluten, our products are not specifically formulated to contain gluten but

we cannot guarantee that the alcohol portion of the natural flavor system is

always derived from corn and not from oats, rye and barley.

We hope this information is helpful to you. As an additional resource, you

may wish to visit the website: www.celiac.com. Once again, thank you for

contacting Dannon.

Leaves out Danactive for me .... Marcia

[VydorScope]

HOw much yogurt are we talking about? Like one of those cups a day?

[Lollie]

According to the commercial I saw, which by the way is not the yogurt I bought, said to eat a cup a day for two weeks to see the difference. I decided to try because, well, yogurt tastes real good, it has calcium, and if it has a good benifit for my digestion, I figured why not try it!!!!

Lollie

[happygirl]

Thanks for all the info on probiotics

and I am one of the many women who eat yogurt whenever they take antibiotics!!!! It is a great preventitive measure.