Which probiotic supplements should I buy?

khampson

Hi I am wanting to buy some probiotics and there are a lot of mixed reviews regarding them and I think in saying the more cultures it has the better but how many do I need, I am wanting to boost my general immune system, some are poor quality some are not apparently so which ones shoukd I buy and where is the cheapest place to buy them?

Thanks Keith

Fire_Fox

Basic freeze dried acidophilus capsules will do fine. Most contain a couple of billion viable organisms per capsule. I just get Holland and Barrett when on half price offer. Take with food and store in the refrigerator once opened.

khampson

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Basic freeze dried acidophilus capsules will do fine. Most contain a couple of billion viable organisms per capsule. I just get Holland and Barrett when on half price offer. Take with food and store in the refrigerator once opened.

Is that the only good bacteria I need? I thought I read somewhere that they were about 4 immportant ones.

Keith

Fire_Fox

khampson wrote: »

Is that the only good bacteria I need? I thought I read somewhere that they were about 4 immportant ones.

Keith

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the key one: IIRC the H&B contain a Bifidobacterium sp anyway, but it's sold as acidophilus. Not all probiotics will colonise the gut, some you have to supplement daily to keep levels up which is how the companies make a profit. Even supplementing one and eating a nutrient dense wholefood diet makes a more hospitable environment for other beneficial bacteria to flourish.

ETA yes they do contain others
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=753&prodid=809
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=3694&prodid=4219
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=3122&prodid=3647

A.Penny.Saved

There are many different probiotic bacteria each with many different strains and all having different effects on health. Even probiotic yeasts. As mentioned above, they don't all colonise the gut but should not be overlooked IMO for their health effects.

It can be best to tailor the probiotic to your health or with the effect that you desire. Some can have very positive effects on the digestive system which is largely overlooked as to it's importance in health. Go out and get drunk, not realising the effect it has on the digestive system and health some years down the line.

The cost effective way of doing it is to get a yoghurt maker and make your own. Buy the desired strains of bacteria and use the yoghurt as a starter and only use the capsules or starter you purchase when you need to refresh them. Bacteria are prone to certain viruses called bacteriophages which can change their effects! That is why it's not a good idea using the same starter for too long.

Some to look out for are
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG
Bacillus Coagulans anti Candida yeast effects
Bacillus Subtilis which can enlarge the villi of the digestive system. Strains of this bacteria can have beneficial effects when fermenting certain foods such as soya beans and cabbage etc which can have substantial heart protecting effects.
Lactobacillus Plantarum which is very good if you have any bowel problems such as IBS and can help heal increased intestinal permeability syndrome which is responsible for many illnesses including arthritis and other immune system diseases where the immune system begins to attack the body.
All the common ones such as L. Acidophilus and Bifido.

A good one is XtraLac. Use it as a yoghurt starter for cost benefits. I'm on my first pack!

Fire_Fox

You won't get billions of viable organisms in live yoghurt, millions if you are lucky. Good for maintaining gut health but not repopulating the gut.

lostinrates

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the key one: IIRC the H&B contain a Bifidobacterium sp anyway, but it's sold as acidophilus. Not all probiotics will colonise the gut, some you have to supplement daily to keep levels up which is how the companies make a profit. Even supplementing one and eating a nutrient dense wholefood diet makes a more hospitable environment for other beneficial bacteria to flourish.

ETA yes they do contain others
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=753&prodid=809
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=3694&prodid=4219
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=3122&prodid=3647

Firefox, can I ask about the hospitable environment thing?

I am taking the yogurt type probiotic drinks ATM. But I find for them to work I have to take more than one, and twice a day. (So with each meal). The pill type from h and B. (which I would prefer) don't seem to have any impact.

Is this, and the need to take more than once a day, likely to be a GIT environment issue? ( I know you cannot advice specifically I am just wondering if it could be the reason)

khampson

Thanks for the info. Found these at a decent price what are your thoughts

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Protexin-Bio-Kult-Advanced-Probiotic-Capsules/dp/B004SH1PAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366305912&sr=8-1&keywords=probiotic

http://www.simplysupplements.net/product/244/probiotic-max/

Or are there better probiotics on the market for the money?

Thanks again

khampson

Also found these

http://www.simplysupplements.net/product/71/acidophilus/

It says 500 million batteria. Can you overdose on these?

Keith

j.e.j.

sorry to jump on your thread, but are these probiotic supplements good for counteracting the side-effects of taking antibiotics?

khampson

j.e.j. wrote: »

sorry to jump on your thread, but are these probiotic supplements good for counteracting the side-effects of taking antibiotics?

I read that they replace the good batteria that antibiotics kill but I dont know if you can take them at the same time. I am new to probiotics so I am here for help too as I read that some companies are coining in on poor quality suppliments.

Keith