For years I’ve heard the word “probiotic” but never really thought about it or if I needed it. I knew that a lot of yogurt brands advertised they contained probiotics but again, I didn’t necessarily ask myself if my body needed them. Well, as I’ve shared before, I was diagnosed with celiac disease earlier this year and while going through the tests, I found out I also had SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth,) which was treated with an antibiotic and probiotics. As I got the celiac under control though, I continued to have some stomach issues that while not debilitating, could be uncomfortable. (The first week after taking the antibiotic and probiotic, my stomach and entire body felt better than it had for years…after a couple of weeks, the stomach issues started popping up again.)

Turns out, the probiotics were a huge reason my stomach had started feeling really good and once they were out of my system, the symptoms came back.

WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially for your digestive system. Also called “good” bacteria, probiotics are a natural part of the body’s environment that reside in the intestine and keep pathogens in check, aid in proper digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function. They prevent the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and fungus in the gut. To support good digestive health, it’s important to have a balance of good bacteria in your digestive tract.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

When you lose “good” bacteria in your body, probiotics can help replace them. Some reasons you might lose the good bacteria are antibiotics, sugars/fructose, refined grains, processed foods, chlorinated and fluoridated water, and agricultural chemicals and pesticides. Underlying illnesses can also cause this, like my celiac.

Probiotics can help replace the good bacteria while lowering the “bad” bacteria in your system that can cause infections or other problems. They help balance the good and bad bacteria, which will help keep your body working like it was meant to do, as they help move food through your gut.

NOT JUST FOR GUT RELIEF –

Turns out probiotics can help with numerous symptoms and conditions that aren’t just related to your gut. For example; I had some stomach issues but also was experiencing extreme fatigue and itchy skin. Here’s a few diseases probiotics can help ease…

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Infectious diarrhea caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites

• Antibiotic-related diarrhea

• Asthma to allergens

• Skin disorders like eczema

• Vaginal and urinary infections

• Oral health

• Colds

• Diarrhea in general

• Allergic rhinitis

• Vitamin deficiency

• Malnutrition

SYMPTOMS YOU MIGHT BE LACKING HEALTHY BACTERIA –

• Gas & bloating

• Nausea

• Constipation or diarrhea

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Sugar cravings

• Refined carb food cravings

• Depression

• Lowered immunity

• Abdominal pain

You can get probiotics through foods or supplements. The FDA doesn’t regulate probiotics like it does with medications which means makers of probiotic supplements don’t have to show that their products are safe or even work. Make sure you use a reputable brand** and as always, if you are seeing a doctor for an underlying disease or illness, check with your doctor first. You might experience some mild side effects when beginning a probiotic regimen which can include upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, or bloating. These symptoms should disappear after the first couple of days…if not, stop and consult your doctor.

10 TOP FOODS WITH PROBIOTICS:

Yogurt (Make sure the label says with “live & active cultures.”)

Sauerkraut (Choose the unpasteurized kind because pasteurization kills active, good bacteria. Find it in the refrigeration section.)

Miso

Kimchi

Aged cheeses like Gouda, cheddar, Parmesan and Swiss.

Kefir

Sourdough bread

Milk with probiotics

Sour pickles (Naturally fermented kinds where vinegar wasn’t used in pickling process, found in refrigerator section.)

Tempeh

Make sure you pay attention to the expiration dates since live organisms have a limited shelf life. And store according to package labels.

SUPPLEMENTS –

Read the labels. To help ensure you’re buying a good brand, read the label. According to WebMD, labels on supplements should specify the genus, species and strain, in that order. (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, for example.) Microbe counts are listed as colony-forming units (CFU) which are the numbers of live organisms in a single does, typically in the billions. The label should also include the number of organisms that will be alive by the use-by-date, the dose, and the company name and contact information.

10 REPUTABLE PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS –

Here’s 10 highly rated probiotic supplements according to Probiotics.com:

Dr. Ohhrira Probiotics

Culturelle

Yakult

Yarrow

Dr. Mercola’s Complete Probiotics

Bio – K + Probiotics

Udo’s Choice Probiotics

GT’s Kombucha

Garden of Law Raw Probiotics

Renew – Life

In addition, I found good reviews on Align, Florator, and Dr. Frank Lipmans Be Well Probiotic Powder. You can also ask your pharmacist for recommendations. (Or your doctor.)

Probiotic supplements can be expensive, with some brands costing over a dollar per dose. Higher prices don’t necessarily mean you’re getting a higher quality…read those labels and make sure they have the information covered earlier.

I personally have been using Sam’s brand, Member’s Mark 5x Probiotic Digestive Care Supplement, which is formulated with 5 strains of healthy bacteria with 5 billion total live probiotic cells. (The cost per dose is approximately 34 cents.) These have been working great for me and I didn’t have any side effects when I first started taking them.

Once you do stop taking probiotics, the good effects will end within a couple of weeks.

I covered a lot but for an easy-to-read, detailed article, you can check out this from thechalkboardmag.com

http://thechalkboardmag.com/9-signs-you-need-probiotics