What are probotics and why are they so popular all the sudden?

[kriket]

I hear all the time about probotics. Kids chocolate flavored drinks with a probotic straw, taking pills to balance intestinal flora/flawna. Giving them to breast fed babies etc. what is this? I understand the basics of balancing your gut, but I'm skeptical. Plus they seem really pricey.

I'm lactose intolerant so that's what has me interested. I lost the ability to process dairy in college after a really really bad illness. This was about 6ish years ago. I'm thinking maybe I can rebalanced somehow and be able to eat more then a slice of cheese? (Or icecream!? I can only hope)

I'm generally skeptical of things that are mass marketed. I feel like they are "watered down" or somehow otherwise missing the point. (Example- whole grain and getting enough fibre is a good idea, getting whole grain and fibre from fruit loops? not the point) And really all I have heard of probotics has been from packaged drinks and other nonsense.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Probiotics are bacteria that line your intestinal tract. They are a large part of your immune system and also aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Probiotic foods are actually a very, very old thing. There are much more natural ways to get probiotics than a straw or pill. We talk about them a lot over in the Traditional Foods forum. They are present in all kinds of foods - yogurt, kefir, kombucha, fermented fruits and veggies, etc.

When you had this bad illness I'm guessing you were given antibiotics? If so, you probably definitely need probiotics as antibiotics kill the bad bacteria as well as the good.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

When you had this bad illness I'm guessing you were given antibiotics? If so, you probably definitely need probiotics as antibiotics kill the bad bacteria as well as the good.

When I was in labour they put me on antibiotics because my GBS hadn't come back (turns out I was neg ) do you think the baby would benefit from probiotics?

I would much rather try Keifer, I keep meaning to put in an order with dogmom but I'm afraid to start during the winter because I might kill them