Probiotic drinks?

Ted_Hutchinson

Becles wrote:

I've got IBS and I find Yakult helps settle that down. I don't take it all the time though, and just buy 2-3 weeks worth when I have a bad attack. That works for me. It's too expensive to drink everyday IMO.

The latest research from Pubmed does indicate that there may be a reduction in symptoms with IBS see [size=+1]Use of diet and probiotic therapy in the irritable bowel syndrome: analysis of the literature.[/size]

katy2

I used to buy these as well, but dont anymore. I now buy live yoghurt instead. The live yoghurt is cheaper, tastes nicer, more choice in terms of flavours and can be had with some fruit to make it more interesting.

Savvy_Sue

I can't stand Yakult, but I do buy the Muller live yoghourt drinks or the Actimel ones, whichever's on offer. I even buy Flora when it's on BOGOF. And I miss them when we're away.

I swallow a few tablets first thing in the morning, and use the yoghourty drink to take them. For some reason I often forget at the weekends either to drink the drink or swallow the tablets ...

Turning_into_scrooge

jaybee wrote:

I used to have Yakult too. At first I was convinced that I felt better (maybe I'm just an advertiser's dream ) but after a while I realised that nothing had changed (or got better) so I don't buy it now. Too expensive I think but I do understand how easy it is to let it become a habit and almost be afraid to stop.

The reason you feel good when you first start using these is because your stomach has double the amount of good bacteria but after a while of using them you body realises that it doesnt need to make good bacteria because its being given it so it stops and then you realise that you feel no different than you did before you started to take it. You can make your own body re produce the bacteria but it will take a while from stopping it so really it is an un necessary spend. I only know this as my neice has a degree in some form of biology and she basically told my son off and gave him this information as he enjoys one every morning.

Bossyboots

I haven't read all this thread but am grateful to the OP for starting it as my MIL spends a fortune on this stuff and I keep telling her just to eat ordinary yoghurt.

When my son was 8 he had a really bad stomach problem and became dehdrayted. This went on for over a week and in the end our GP sent him to the hospital. The paediatrician there simply advised giving him live yoghurt. He said he had used it in his own family and it worked swiftly. We followed the advice and within 24 hours he was no longer constantly running to the toilet and within 48 hours he was eating normally again.

We have recommended this to loads of people and they were all amazed at how effective it is.

Ted_Hutchinson

Bossyboots wrote:

.......... I keep telling her just to eat ordinary yoghurt.........

I'm not sure if you actually mean any ordinary yoghurt or you mean an ordinary biolive yoghurt. There are yoghurts which are uht dead yoghurts which aren't refrigerated and must be thoroughly denatured, while there are also yoghurts which have a blend of bio-live active yoghurts which are very similar to the probiotic yacult type drinks.

In my opinion the bio-live yoghurts which can be used as a starter to grow your own live yoghurt (such as Rachels diary)will be useful to you. I've looked at but not yet tried the probiotic yoghurty drinks, but it is clear from the research with regard to lactobacilli and bifidobacteriae that significantly higher response to probiotics in those with increased risk of IBD may be expected. I haven't yet tried producing my own Probiotic yoghurt, I'm happy with keeping the current Rachel's Diary yoghurt going (I last bought a yoghurt just after xmas 2004)be interested to hear if anyone has tried making further probiotic yoghurt from a yackult starter?

Bossyboots

I did mean live yoghurt of course. That was one of those moments where it made sense while I typed it but I can see it is not clear reading it back now. At the time my son was ill the probiotic drinks weren't around so live yoghurt was the only choice. The doctor did point out at the time that it was important to use live yoghurt and not the uht stuff that was around at the time.

jaybee

Turning_into_scrooge wrote:

The reason you feel good when you first start using these is because your stomach has double the amount of good bacteria but after a while of using them you body realises that it doesnt need to make good bacteria because its being given it so it stops and then you realise that you feel no different than you did before you started to take it. You can make your own body re produce the bacteria but it will take a while from stopping it so really it is an un necessary spend. I only know this as my neice has a degree in some form of biology and she basically told my son off and gave him this information as he enjoys one every morning.

Thanks - That's saved me money AND made me realise that I wasn't being stupid!