Probiotics

KilljoyKlown

KilljoyKlown

Whatever
Valued Senior Member
When you hear the term probiotics, you think of friendly bacteria that reside in the human gut and live there in a beneficial symbioses with us. In other words we both benefit from them being there.

There are many probiotic foods such as Yogurt, Kefir, Sauerkraut, Dark Chocolate, Microalgae, Miso Soup, Pickles, Tempeh, Kimchi, Kombucha Tea. But the best and fastest way to add a complete mix of safe probiotics is from probiotic supplements. But if you start searching around for those supplements it seems everybody has their own formula which claims to be the best. How do you select the best if you are planning to buy some?

The following article might be able to help as it's not trying to sell you anything.

http://bigthink.com/think-tank/five...0_friendly_bacteria6_29_2012&utm_medium=email

I'm hoping for anyone with first hand knowledge of using probiotics to make comments about how well the methods they used worked.
 
KilljoyKlown said:
When you hear the term probiotics, you think of friendly bacteria that reside in the human gut and live there in a beneficial symbioses with us. In other words we both benefit from them being there.

There are many probiotic foods such as Yogurt, Kefir, Sauerkraut, Dark Chocolate, Microalgae, Miso Soup, Pickles, Tempeh, Kimchi, Kombucha Tea. But the best and fastest way to add a complete mix of safe probiotics is from probiotic supplements. But if you start searching around for those supplements it seems everybody has their own formula which claims to be the best. How do you select the best if you are planning to buy some?

The following article might be able to help as it's not trying to sell you anything.

http://bigthink.com/think-tank/five...0_friendly_bacteria6_29_2012&utm_medium=email

I'm hoping for anyone with first hand knowledge of using probiotics to make comments about how well the methods they used worked.
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I've had major surgery more than once that was followed by massive treatment with antibiotics. I've also had continuing gut problems ever since I was a kid (over 60 years worth).

Both my regular family doctor and surgeon recommended probiotics - I've only tried one because it gave excellent results on the first try: Activia. (And that's despite not liking Jamie Lee Curtis or her commercials either.) :D
 
Read-Only said:
I've had major surgery more than once that was followed by massive treatment with antibiotics. I've also had continuing gut problems ever since I was a kid (over 60 years worth).

Both my regular family doctor and surgeon recommended probiotics - I've only tried one because it gave excellent results on the first try: Activia. (And that's despite not liking Jamie Lee Curtis or her commercials either.) :D
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Yes antibiotics are good at killing all the good bacteria in your body. The faster you can replace it the better. Do you have any idea which bacteria there are in Activia? Just thinking it might not include all the varieties that need replacing.

The one problem I see with people trying different formulas is they are not cheap.
 
KilljoyKlown said:
Yes antibiotics are good at killing all the good bacteria in your body. The faster you can replace it the better. Do you have any idea which bacteria there are in Activia? Just thinking it might not include all the varieties that need replacing.

The one problem I see with people trying different formulas is they are not cheap.
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No, I don't know the makeup of it.

But I *do* know this - there's no "formula" for everyone. One of my doctors mentioned this and the other one confirmed it: the varieties found in the gut are almost as unique as an individual's DNA. The odds of two people having identical strains of bacteria present are on the order of a million to one.

And that's one of the reasons I don't bother with the expensive stuff. The Activia solved my problem - and I see no reason to waste money on overkill.
 
Yogurt is one of the most common sources of probiotics in the U.S. and Canada although I recall reading an article a while back that some studies had shown considerable variation in the amount of actual lactobacillus acidophilus present between offerings.

The definition of probiotics, according to the World Health Organization, is "live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host." The most common of these live microorganisms are the bacteria lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Foods that are natural sources of probiotics include yogurt, buttermilk, kefir, tempeh, miso, sauerkraut and a Korean side dish called kimchi.
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Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/536688-foods-that-naturally-contain-probiotics/#ixzz1zJPKbSHU

Of the many dozens of types and flavors we carry at the store, there are only a handful that do not contain cornstarch or pectin. Plain yogurt should contain only milk ingredients and bacterial cultures in my opinion, and I like it with a mild salsa on top of a baked potato. Add some maple syrup and use it as a dressing or dip for fruit. It goes wonderfully well with apple. :D

I occasionally bake with buttermilk and I am very fond of sauerkraut. Be careful to read the label, though, and get only brands that list cabbage and salt as the ingredients. Once you start seeing vinegar and other ingredients, it is more pickled than fermented and so does not act the same way in one's digestion.

Not sure that my European genetics are suited to soy products, so have not ventured down that path. :)
 
Here is my post carried forward from the other thread.

Originally posted by scheherazade:

A good natural yogurt, Greek or Balkan style without all that extra 'stuff' added has been demonstrated to be beneficial to persons and dogs when on a course of antibiotics.

Sucking down yogurt full of sugar, cornstarch, pectin, gelatin and a long list of other flavor and color enhancers remains of questionable value.

My experience with dogs is related to endurance racing (Yukon Quest). If a dog incurred an abrasion on the pad, it is an entry point for bacteria (yes, even in cold weather) and the dogs routinely wear foot protection where the footing is rugged. As long as a cut or abrasion was minor and the dog not displaying discomfort or limping, Amoxicillin was given as a proactive measure and the dog could continue racing at the discretion of the Race Vet. As these drugs can have the side effect of killing the good bacteria in the gut and hence upsetting the dog's appetite and digestion, some plain yogurt added to the ration seemed to keep the dog so affected in good form and appetite.

Field tested, though not studied in a laboratory setting.
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scheherazade said:
Here is my post carried forward from the other thread.
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Well I see yogurt seems to be the popular choice. Maybe I'll try some, but I haven't been a big yogurt fan.

In any event the gut is not the only place good bacteria live in harmony with humans. The skin is also, a place where good bacteria help protect us. Mostly by not allowing bad bacteria any space to grow. But I've been wondering if skin problems may not be caused in part, by the wrong mix of those type bacteria on the affected individual?

If you try and search on skin probiotics, you come up with many fake probiotic claims and I'm beginning to think there is no real skin probiotics on the market that offer any real value. If anyone knows different please provide a link.
 
KilljoyKlown said:
Well I see yogurt seems to be the popular choice. Maybe I'll try some, but I haven't been a big yogurt fan.

In any event the gut is not the only place good bacteria live in harmony with humans. The skin is also, a place where good bacteria help protect us. Mostly by not allowing bad bacteria any space to grow. But I've been wondering if skin problems may not be caused in part, by the wrong mix of those type bacteria on the affected individual?

If you try and search on skin probiotics, you come up with many fake probiotic claims and I'm beginning to think there is no real skin probiotics on the market that offer any real value. If anyone knows different please provide a link.
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There is a huge difference in the taste and texture of yogurts. The ones with cornstarch in taste like I imagine wallpaper paste might, no matter what flavor they add to it. I like real vanilla yogurt or there is one caramel flavor with no added junk that I am fond of. Plain yogurt is somewhat like mild sour cream, with less fat. I don't eat it by itself. I either add salsa, fruit or maple syrup depending on what I'm eating it with.

Regarding topical skin probiotics:

From years of working with performance dogs and horses by means of genetics, nutrition and conditioning, I don't mind admitting that I am strictly 'old school' in some of my experience based observations.

The best way I know to get good skin, coat and condition on a dog or horse is through good nutrition and digestion, not by slathering something on the poor critter. I tend to extrapolate my experience across to humans. :D

Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann recognizes the potential of helpful bacteria to treat skin disorders such as acne and eczema, but thinks more research is needed before the microbes should be used cosmetically. “I’m a believer in [probiotic] supplements, but no one has proved that probiotics work on skin,” she says. “The bacteria in your colon are not the same as those on your skin, so you can’t make the leap that if probiotics work internally, they’re going to work topically.”
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Read More http://www.wmagazine.com/beauty/2009/02/probiotics#ixzz1zJxEG1s0
 
Folks who live together often have very similar microbial gut populations. My Labrador occasionally eats a bit of mud, I assume for pro-biotic content. I use yogurt for obvious reason after antibiotic treatment, though those are rare for me these days as I don't often get ill. :)
 
scheherazade said:
There is a huge difference in the taste and texture of yogurts. The ones with cornstarch in taste like I imagine wallpaper paste might, no matter what flavor they add to it. I like real vanilla yogurt or there is one caramel flavor with no added junk that I am fond of. Plain yogurt is somewhat like mild sour cream, with less fat. I don't eat it by itself. I either add salsa, fruit or maple syrup depending on what I'm eating it with.

Regarding topical skin probiotics:

From years of working with performance dogs and horses by means of genetics, nutrition and conditioning, I don't mind admitting that I am strictly 'old school' in some of my experience based observations.

The best way I know to get good skin, coat and condition on a dog or horse is through good nutrition and digestion, not by slathering something on the poor critter. I tend to extrapolate my experience across to humans. :D


Read More http://www.wmagazine.com/beauty/2009/02/probiotics#ixzz1zJxEG1s0
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I agree that with most people, eating the good diet probably maintains good skin health. But what about all the people with skin problems that no diet seems to help? Most of them are not considered major problems, but they are irritating non the less. Dandruff, dry scaly skin, acne...etc.

What if these conditions might be caused by established but not so friendly bacteria? Simply putting on some probiotic cream might not be enough to overcome an already established strain. I would think, you would first need to remove all bacteria and start from scratch. But like your article says it's an area of study that's just getting started. But I'm thinking finding the right mix of skin bacteria could take a lot of trial and error before getting it right and I'm not sure leaving it to cosmetic companies is the best way to go here.
 
Stoniphi said:
Folks who live together often have very similar microbial gut populations. My Labrador occasionally eats a bit of mud, I assume for pro-biotic content. I use yogurt for obvious reason after antibiotic treatment, though those are rare for me these days as I don't often get ill. :)
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Personally I prefer to skip the mud and poop diet to get my required gut bacteria.:D
 
If you get real bored sometime, Google "fecal implantation/transplantation" as a fix for such conditions as IBS.

PS - You get plenty of that fecal material regardless of whether you want to or not, sorry. :eek:
 
Stoniphi said:
If you get real bored sometime, Google "fecal implantation/transplantation" as a fix for such conditions as IBS.

PS - You get plenty of that fecal material regardless of whether you want to or not, sorry. :eek:
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Maybe so, and I probably breath in a lot of other stuff I'd rather not know about. But that doesn't stop the idea of how gross deliberately eating it might be.:D
 
Activia worked hard on isolating a specific probiotic strain they got patented, Bifidobacterium Animalis DN 173 010. I am guessing from my own experience with all the probiotics that this strain is highly active in large intestines and thus produces the most dramatic digestion results which people are noticing. L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, L. casei are other useful strains all of which had been genetically altered to produced more effective strains.

Scientific American has a blog on "How to Genetically Modify Yogurt", check it out.

KilljoyKlown said:
Maybe so, and I probably breath in a lot of other stuff I'd rather not know about. But that doesn't stop the idea of how gross deliberately eating it might be.:D
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Actually the same fecal bacteria found on the toilet seat also populate the pillow and the bed...
 
I tried some of my lil ones yogurt. It is meant for baby's an its kinda good to me. I wonder if that's a yogurt with good probiotics. An if adults routinely eat it..
 
youreyes said:
Activia worked hard on isolating a specific probiotic strain they got patented, Bifidobacterium Animalis DN 173 010. I am guessing from my own experience with all the probiotics that this strain is highly active in large intestines and thus produces the most dramatic digestion results which people are noticing. L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, L. casei are other useful strains all of which had been genetically altered to produced more effective strains.

Scientific American has a blog on "How to Genetically Modify Yogurt", check it out.
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I've seen expensive formulas that use 5 main strains that serve to populate all areas of the digestive tract. If price is not a problem, why not go for it and eat your yogurt too.

Actually the same fecal bacteria found on the toilet seat also populate the pillow and the bed...
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I'm rather fond of those on my tooth brush.:D
 
Back to yogurt......

As I have stated in several places, not all yogurts are equal. The following list of guidelines will assist those who may be overwhelmed when confronted with 150 or more choices on their first trip to the dairy case in a large food market. :D

Shopping Tips: What to Look for on the Label
The following guidelines will help with locate a healthy yogurt to meet your nutritional needs. All information is based on a single 6-ounce serving of yogurt—the most common size of individual yogurt cups. (Keep in mind that large tubs of yogurt tend to measure a single serving as 8 ounces or 1 cup.) One 6-ounce portion of yogurt should contain:

Less than 180 calories. For those following a lower calorie diet for weight loss, 120 calories is preferred.
Less than 4 grams of fat. A yogurt made with whole milk will contain 7-9 grams of fat; a low -fat yogurt contains 2-4 grams, and a non-fat variety has 0 grams fat.
Less than 30 grams of sugar. Keep in mind that the milk used to make yogurt naturally contains about 12 grams of milk sugar per 6-ounce serving. These naturally occurring sugars are grouped with the added sugars when you read the nutrition facts label for "Sugars." If you prefer "natural" sweeteners (honey, maple syrup, etc.), sugar substitutes, sugar alcohols, or standard sweeteners like regular sugar or high fructose corn syrup, you will have to read the Ingredients list to find out which type(s) of added sweetener your yogurt contains.
At least 5 grams of protein.
At least 20% of your daily value (DV) of calcium.
At least 10% of your daily value (DV) of vitamin D. Some yogurts are fortified with vitamin D, which enhances calcium absorption and promotes bone health.

Look for the Live and Active Cultures seal from the National Yogurt Association, too (see "Probiotics" bullet point above).
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http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1280
 
I started the already quoted similar thread a year or so ago. Its conclusion was that it could help people after surgery or gastronomical problems, although there is a serious placebo effect.

Recently I started to research the issue again, because of well, let's just say gas problems. If you google "gas probiotics", it gives you a few clues what type one might need. I got one from the store and ordered another from Amazon. (I will quote what types later). So anyhow, after 3 days of taking it and also eating Greek yogurt 1-2 times a day, I think it does work. Usually after drinking beer I get gas (to put it mildly) and I had 2 different types of beers the other day and almost no gas. Also in the google results another person said his gas strength went down from 10 to 4, which is a big improvement. Since I am eating yogurt and taking the Probiotics at the same time, it is hard to tell which one is more effective. What I try to do is, eating a little yogurt before eating something gas producing.

I will report back from time to time. I guess the general answer is that Probiotics could help but not everybody and not for everything. People have different gut flora and different issues....

P.S.: I am eating the strawberry flavored yogurt which is actually pretty tasty. I am not sure if this one is made with real sugar (not very good against gas) or some substitutes...
 
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