Which probiotic supplements should I buy?

A.Penny.Saved

clairibel wrote: »

Hiya Keith, I know what your saying about the billion markers but after research I found that some of the so called 10 billion formulations a lot of the bacteria did not survive digestive juices anyway.

I went off good reviews and information I found online as I can't afford to chuck money around on supplements that don't work. Plus I have tried many 10 billion types and none have cleared my skin, bloating etc.

http://www.biokult.com/userfiles/file/how_do_you_choose_a_good_probiotic_-_aileen_green_final_lowres.pdf

I also take Multibionta Vitality which had probiotics in a multivitamin form and has a coating to protect the probiotics from being wiped out by acid.

I also read on MSE that good quality supplements don't usually say take with food and can be taken on an empty stomach of which I do and probiotics must be taken away from hot drinks.

The supplements that say take with food are supposed to be filled with synthetic stuff and not really any good, this was said by a person who was in the know 'apparently' on a post ages ago.

There are lots to think about when buying supplements, I have ME or thats what they tell me and need an extra boost to my health but I find lots of supplements too strong for my system and they can cause side effects for me usually they stimulate my immune system which makes all my normal symptoms worse.

Do you realise that an empty stomach has a lower ph, ie more acidic than a full stomach and therefore it should be harder for bacteria to survive which is it's purpose, to keep the stomach clear of organisms. Which leads me on to bloating which can be a sign of low stomach acid and stomach overgrowth. I have ME as well and experience wind and bloating when eating so I am well aware of all this after doing a lot of research on the causes. Check out the GAPS diet which is by Dr Campbell McBride. It's designed to restore digestive function. Get some soup stock

To save money, culture your own bacteria using kefir, yoghurt or sauerkraut. Fairly cheap to do and they can be re-used for many generations in the case of yoghurt/kefir.

I have a fermenting crock which has been going for 3.5 weeks so far. A kilner jar going for 3 weeks and 2 more jars and another fermenting crock which I have to get filled up.

A forum on different forms of fermenting, providing help etc:

http://www.wildfermentation.com/forum/index.php

clairibel wrote: »

I saw this in the paper yesterday about a man who has alleviated some of his alzheimers by taking coconut oil. I will have a look at your link, thanks.

I have been taking a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil a day and find it has helped with my dry skin and eyes. Also my joints as its anti inflammatory and is supposed to act like ibuprofen but it has to be a good quality. You should get a kick in the back of your throat if its quality. The strongest kick I've had is from Aldi's specially selected, tastes the nicest too

Its supposed to boost your metabolism as well and I do feel its helping.

I saw that and TV news programmes saying similar things. Coconut oil is high in saturated fats which is meant to be beneficial to the nervous system maintenance. All the low fat diets that were pushed on everyone over the last 50 years have caused more ill health than saturated fat ever caused. That has been proven! They now say that saturated fat is okay, it was all a giant lie told by the world health organization sponsored by the American multi national oil producers.

I've been eating coconut oil since late last/early this year and stopped all the rancid vegetable oils. Great for cooking, frying, eating and very nice in scrambled eggs with some onions - I love it.

I've been buying it in bulk from Amazon. Much cheaper with the quantities that I use.

bigmondy wrote: »

Sorry to resurrect an old thread - couldn't find one that could advise which is best for the elderly.

Yoghurt, priobiotic pills such as acidopholous or both?

Can you overdose on live cultures?

Thanks guys.

Try Kefir by getting some grains and making your own. A yoghurt maker is fairly cheap, either use some supermarket bio yoghurt as a starter or buy a small number of probiotic capsules and use those. Ferment it until it gets fairly thick, just before lactic acid begins to show and then cool it as quickly as possible. A little lactic acid may be visible, just don't let it go too far over.

Get a large pickling jar with a glass that can fit in the top and ferment some cabbage. Keep the top covered with a cloth and elastic band and stand it in something to catch any spillage. Or better is to use a kilner jar because it is anaerobic, but you do need something to weigh down the cabbage to keep it submerged. I used a white ceramic dish that I got from sainsbury and cut the top section off. It fit quite well. Then washed and baked it in the oven before using it.

Fermented foods provide far more bacteria than probiotics and are far cheaper. Eat as much as you can and it will do you a lot of benefit.

Bacteria regulate the immune system function. The media would have you believe that all bacteria are bad! They are not! Every bacteria has it's place, it's just that some don't really belong or benefit the human body. The right ones in the right place can be very beneficial. Anti bacterial substances are far too widely used IMO, they cause so many problems because bacteria can adapt so quickly to them. The natural force that is the survival of the fittest is why. Keep wiping them out until one survives and you have billions that can no longer be killed by the old anti bacterial substances.

Using bacteria to control bacteria is the way forward, it's natures way and a way that man has tried to ignore. Man can never beat bacteria and never will for more than a brief moment in time.

This thread will probably be another to get struck.

bigmondy

Thanks APS. Your advice is very interesting indeed. But it's for my Mum who would not be able (or prepared if truth be told) as she would probably forget what she was doing or what stage she was at. heh heh - she doesn't even want to keep plants any more because she forgets to tend them.

I like the idea of the Oil - she was taking Cod Liver Oil tablets every day - but I felt they were just upsetting her stomach - reflux caused by the anti-inflammatory pills she is taking.

I wonder if she should try the Extra Virgin Oil.

She is taking NAPROXEN to help her joint pain which is pretty constant at the moment so I have got her on this regime:

Breakfast

- One Probiotic Acidophilus
- One Yakult

- After 15 minutes Porridge

- NAPROXEN x 1

Mid morning.

- Bio Yoghurt


Lunch

- Food, Cup of tea then after 15 – 30 minutes
- Yoghurt

Mid - Afternoon

- Biscuit then cup of tea.

Evening dinner

- One Probiotic Acidophilus
- One Yakult

- After 15 - 30 minutes have dinner then

- one NAPROXEN

Mid evening

- Cereal or snack.


Before Bed


one OMEPRAZOLE. (which is supposed to help her stomach - but I am not sure it is working - she preferred Zantac)




Sorry OP - hope I haven't hijacked your thread.

A.Penny.Saved

I am really sorry but I cannot give out medical advice on this forum. If I do so, this thread will get deleted. For advice on medical matters there are other forums which are more tolerant.