FitSugar

Acidophilus Pearls: The Goodness of Yogurt Without the Spoon

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I'm sure you've all heard about how the live active cultures in yogurt are excellent for your digestive tract. If you have a hard time fitting in a cup of yogurt into your diets everyday or if you just don't eat dairy products, then Acidophilus Pearls, a type of probiotic supplement, were made for you then. It offers the benefits of acidophilus without the calories, cholesterol, sugars, or lactose found in yogurt. If you have tummy troubles, taking one capsule a day can help alleviate occasional gas and constipation plus symptoms of lactose intolerance. Plus these Pearls don't need to be refrigerated like other probiotic pills - and they even made the list of the best probiotics for your money.

Want to know what else probiotics are good for? Then read more

When it comes to your belly, probiotics assist the body's naturally occurring gut flora (useful microorganisms that live in the digestive tract) that often get out of whack because of the foods we eat, and they help maintain a balance of healthy bacteria. Not only that but they also support your immune system and benefit your skin. Taking probiotics can also reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improve mineral absorption, prevent yeast infections, and improve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Colitis. Wow. All I know is that when I take them, I feel so much better.

Who knew they did all that. Do any of you take Acidophilus Pearls or another kind of probiotic?

Many Probiotics Short on Bacteria

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:09 -0800

With claims that they improve digestion, bolster immunity, and fight acne, it's no wonder that probiotic supplements are big business. Newsweek reports that sales of these supplements have more than quadrupled in the last 10 years. I will admit, I'm a fan these friendly bacteria found in yogurt and miso, but it's the quality of the supplements that's raising eyebrows.

Many popular probiotic supplements were tested by Consumer Lab, an independent agency that monitors vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements not regularly tested by the government. The lab's findings are a bit startling. Some of the products contain as little as 13 percent of the amount of "viable bacteria" claimed on the products' labels, although most products do contain one billion organisms - the amount needed to register some health benefits.

When it comes to misleading marketing with these supplements, much of the problem stems from the fact that the term probiotics has no legal definition and can be used loosely by manufactures. Of the supplements tested, ConsumerLab ranked Advocare Probiotic Restore, GNC Nature Brand Best Super Acidophilus, and Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus as having the highest quality. You can buy a full review from Consumer Lab for $12.

What's the Deal With: Probiotic Hummus

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Predicted to be a food trend of 2009, Probiotics, those beneficial bacteria, are being added to all sorts of foods, from dairy products to energy bars. Probiotics have been found to support both the digestive and immune systems, prevent constipation, benefit your skin, and lower blood pressure. Yogurt is naturally chock full of the bacteria, but I just found a probiotic hummus made by Wildwood Organics.

To find out if its worth buying read more.

The list of ingredients reads: "garbanzo beans, garlic, probiotic cultures (L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium ssp., L. casei) . . ." The label, however, doesn't list the amount of cultures. Many of these enhanced products don't contain enough bacteria to provide health benefits, so they're not worth paying the extra cash. Studies show that doses between 100 million and 1 billion colony-forming units (CFU) are effective for improving immune function, intestinal infections, and digestion. So if you want the benefits of probiotics, it's best to take them separately in supplement form, such as Acidophilus Pearls.

Probiotics Put to the Test: Which are Worth the Dough?

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0700

A lot of us have jumped on the probiotic bandwagon. With all the claimed benefits of those little buggers, how could you not? Problem is, like vitamins, all probiotic supplements are not created equal.

ConsumerLabs.com, an online resource available to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate health, wellness, and nutrition products, has put 22 popular probiotic supplements to the test and the findings were not pretty. Seven of the 22 did not meet quality standards of having at least a billion bugs; yup ONE BILLION BUGS while others were sub par for other reasons. The three that passed the test with flying colors in all their bacterial glory are:

Culturelle with Lactobacillus GG ($16.99)
Enzymatic Therapy Acidophilus Pearls ($29.96)
Kal Acidophilus ProBiotic-5 ($7.85)

Buy all three from the VitaminShoppe.com.

DrSugar Answers: Probiotics?

DrSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Hey DrSugar,
Lately I've started seeing various dairy products boast of their products' probiotic content, and they say that two weeks of eating their product daily will fix irregularity. What happens after those two weeks? Are you "cured," or do they expect you to continue consuming probiotics daily to stay regular? Is it possible for your GI system to become "dependent" on these probiotics?
- Pro Probiotic?

This is a great question, since probiotic foods and supplements seem to be everywhere. To see what DrSugar has to say on the subject just read more.

Probiotics are living organisms commonly found in dairy products and other foods that can provide potential health benefits. Basically, they are “good bacteria.” Probiotics have been marketed for the treatment of many ailments including diarrhea, constipation, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more generally inflammation. Some of these claims are supported by high quality scientific evidence and some are not. One study looked at irritable bowel syndrome symptoms over the course of one month in patients treated with probiotics versus placebo. The results showed a remarkable reduction in symptoms in the probiotic group of 42.6 percent. However, the catch was that the placebo group had an equally impressive reduction in symptoms of 42.3 percent. Placebo effect or not, 42 percent is a very impressive statistic so it is probably worth a shot if you’re suffering from irregularity.

Getting to your specific question, there is no evidence to support a long term benefit from probiotics. The stool levels of the probiotics have actually been shown to decrease within a few days after not taking the supplement. Probiotics live harmoniously with the naturally occurring gut flora but do not replace that flora permanently. So you will not be cured and will need to continue to consume probiotics to maintain the desired benefit. Probiotics are different than other medications that treat diarrhea and constipation and have not been shown to cause dependence. One of the great things about probiotics is that there are almost no negative side effects or contraindications. The only exception is if you have severe immunodeficiency from a serious underlying disease; a probiotic supplement could overstimulate the immune system creating more harm than good. More information can be found at the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Food Review: Yakult Probiotic Drink

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:32:49 -0700

I first said "yeah" to Yakult because I love saying the word "Yakult." I also love probiotics to promote healthy digestion. Plus, this probiotic drink comes in cute little bottles about the size of a shot glass, so it seemed like a fun way to drink healthy.

Yakult isn't a yogurt; it's a "fermented dairy drink" first produced in Japan and contains live, probiotic cultures to help boost your immune system and the good bacteria in your tummy. Sold in packs of five, the 2.7-fluid-ounce bottles can be downed as drinks, but I also enjoyed it poured over cereal in place of milk. So how does it taste?

Probiotics: Beneficial or a Waste of Money?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Probiotics certainly were a health buzzword of 2008. These healthy bacteria can now be found in all sorts of products from dairy products to energy bars, from cereals to dietary supplements. These probiotic products claim to help with high blood pressure, digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation. The question is, are they worth the money?

Many of the probiotic products on the market don't contain enough of the types of bacteria that studies have found offer health benefits, so they're not worth buying. Products worth your money should contain purified strains of specific microbes, such as B. Animalis (found in Dannon's Activia yogurt), or other specific strains of Bifidobacterium, or Lactobacillus. Check amounts as well. Studies show that doses between 100 million and 1 billion colony forming units (CFU) are effective for improving immune function, intestinal infections, and digestion. Acidophilus Pearls contain 1 billion CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum bacteria, so they're a great option. Since needs differ among people, some folks may benefit from one strain of microbes over another; if the Pearls aren't working for you, here's a list of some other probiotics to try.

Fit's Tip: While probiotics are in no way necessary for normal body function, if you're having digestive issues, you may benefit from taking them. Just so you know, in order to feel the effects you need to take them daily, and it may take a week or two to experience results.

If you have a probiotic product that you use, tell me about it in the comment section below.

Source

Probiotics and Prebiotics: Bugs You Should Love

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Are you a fan of probiotics? Maybe prebiotics? What's the difference anyway?

Probiotics - dietary supplements/foods containing good bacteria - are a big trend in supplements today. This is because they can help regulate your digestive system by managing lactose intolerance, preventing colon cancer, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, improving immune function and preventing infections, reducing inflammation, improves mineral absorption, prevents harmful bacterial growth under stress and improving systems of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Colitis. That is quite a list!!!

The reason is because probiotics assist the body's naturally occurring gut flora (useful microorganisms that live in the digestive tract) that often get out of whack from the foods we eat to the antibacterial soap we use. That's one good bug. Probiotics can be found in yogurt (live & active cultures) and yeast, but they are most commonly consumed in supplement form. You can buy probiotic supplements from The Vitamin Shoppe.

While probiotics are getting increasing popular in the United States, evidence supports that the benefits of prebiotics - Non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and improve host health- are a better way to increase good bacterial growth in the gut. Prebiotic foods include soybeans, Jerusalem artichokes, raw oats, unrefined wheat and unrefined barley. Prebiotics naturally occur in breast milk and are believed to play an important role in the development of a healthy immune system in infants.

Gut Feeling: Probiotics For Immune Health

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:45:00 -0800

Probiotics seem to be the "functional food" darling of the moment, but it seems to me these healthful microbes might really deserve their super star status. Probiotics add good bacteria to your intestines, helping to maintain the balance between the good micro-organisms and the bad. New research shows that they might be beneficial to more than just your guts. It seems keeping your intestinal flora balanced is good for the overall health of your immune system. The tiny, yet powerful microbes bolster the immune system helping stimulate the production of more killer cells that attack viral infected cells. Sounds like there is a war being waged in our intestines.

To ensure that the good bacteria have a fighting chance, eat foods like yogurt bearing the live and active cultures label or take a probiotics supplement. Don't just go with your gut feeling (sorry about the pun) when shopping for a probiotics. Read the label and make sure the supplement contains at least one billion (yep, one billion that is not a typo) organisms.

Source

Probiotic (By mouth)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:09:04 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Used to increase the number of "friendly bacteria" in your stomach and intestines.

Brand Name(s)

Pangestyme EC, Creon 10, Creon 20, Viokase, Lipram-Pn10, Lipram-Pn20, Lipram-Pn16, Lipram 4500, Ultrase Mt20, Pangestyme CN-10, Plaretase 8000, Pangestyme CN-20, Lactaid, QC Dairy Relief, Panokase

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to lactobacillus, acidophilus, bifidobacterium, or streptococcus thermophilus. Do not use this medicine if you have a high fever, unless your doctor tells you to.

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet, Powder, Chewable Tablet, Capsule, Coated Tablet, Wafer, Liquid, Delayed Release Capsule

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label.
It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
Swallow the capsule or tablet whole. Do not let it dissolve in your mouth.
Do not chew, break, or crush the coated tablet or delayed-released capsule. Swallow them whole.
Take the powder with meals. Avoid breathing in the powder. It can be very irritating to your lungs. Do not get the powder on your skin.
If you are using the chewable tablet or wafer, chew it completely before you swallow.
Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.

If a dose is missed:

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Some forms of this medicine must be kept in the refrigerator after opening.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Tell your doctor about any health problems you have and any medicines that you are taking.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or vomiting.
Stomach upset, gas, or cramps.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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