Saccharomyces boulardii - is Florastor worth the cost?

[oaksie68]

My ND is recommending that I start taking Saccharomyces boulardii, and I mentioned Florastor which she agreed would be fine. However, in doing more research about S. boulardii, I notice there are a few brands other than Florastor which seem to be A LOT cheaper.

I know the saying "you get what you pay for" very much applies to probiotics, but for those of you knowledgeable about S. boulardii - is Florastor worth the cost? Or are there other brands that you would recommend that are cheaper that are just as effective?

TIA!

[mama1803]

I don't know anything about Florastor, but have been happy with the Jarrow brand that I purchase from www.iherb.com

[oaksie68]

[oaksie68]

Originally Posted by mama1803

I don't know anything about Florastor, but have been happy with the Jarrow brand that I purchase from www.iherb.com

Thank you for the reply - I would imagine you are satisfied with the Jarrow brand for this?

[sbgrace]

We switched to a less common brand and my son's stool test for the first time came back with low markers for it. I don't know if it was a fluke or not (may well have been given other stuff going on) but we went back to florastor.

[WuWei]

GT Dave's kombucha has S. boulardii. http://gtskombucha.com/

You only need an ounce a day for significant benefits.


Pat

[oaksie68]

Originally Posted by WuWei

GT Dave's kombucha has S. boulardii. http://gtskombucha.com/

You only need an ounce a day for significant benefits.


Pat

Thanks. That's good to know. I would like to be able to do that, but I am still breastfeeding my 21 month old, and if I recall correctly, I should avoid kombucha while doing so?

[tolovemercy]

I have taken a wide variety of probiotics, and florastor is definitely my favorite--though I *so* know what you mean, the cost is outrageous.

The thing that is unique about S. boulardii, and particularly the high dose/quality you get in florastor, is that is actually removes AND replaces bad yeasts with good yeasts. Florastor was definitely very effective for me.

I personally have mixed feelings about kombucha while nursing. It may not be wise if you've never tried it before--then again, I'm not sure I'd be so concerned if the nursling was also eating a wide variety of solids (not solely dependent on breastmilk). Additionally, if you're taking florastor, I have a hard time believing that a few ounces of kombucha would cause a bigger detox reaction than the regular dose of the probiotics. But, take all of that with a grain of salt--good luck in your decision!

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by tolovemercy

I personally have mixed feelings about kombucha while nursing. It may not be wise if you've never tried it before--then again, I'm not sure I'd be so concerned if the nursling was also eating a wide variety of solids (not solely dependent on breastmilk). Additionally, if you're taking florastor, I have a hard time believing that a few ounces of kombucha would cause a bigger detox reaction than the regular dose of the probiotics. But, take all of that with a grain of salt--good luck in your decision!

Depends upon your your stomach acid, your nutrient deficiencies, your detox pathways, your toxin loads, your mercury history, the age of the nursling, whether you'd had kombucha (and as such the S. boulardii) in other sources, your genetics, your antibiotic history, your candida history, your probiotic history...


Pat

[oaksie68]

Originally Posted by WuWei

Depends upon your your stomach acid, your nutrient deficiencies, your detox pathways, your toxin loads, your mercury history, the age of the nursling, whether you'd had kombucha (and as such the S. boulardii) in other sources, your genetics, your antibiotic history, your candida history, your probiotic history...


Pat

Well I just had my saliva tested, and along with having the results of zone 7 - Adrenal fatigue (and am on Armour Thyroid), my total salivary SIgA was <5 (Depressed). I have only one amalgam filling left in my mouth (quite a few were replaced in 2002 ish - after being done nursing my DD (almost 10) and LOOONNNNGGGG before getting pregnant with my DS (21 months)). I didn't know better at the time, so they weren't taken out safely, and I didn't have the "lightbulb" moment about how that factored in to how my health further tanked after the birth of my DD (very much factored into my adrenal, thyroid and candida issues).

In the time frame after the birth of my daughter, I had been on TONS of antibiotics for sinus/ear infections (so, of course, bring on the tanking of my immune system, thyroid and adrenal glands, and add in a LARGE dash of candida ), most likely caused by dairy and/or maybe gluten.

I did a lot of healing while seeing a ND starting in 2004, and I *think* I was in pretty good shape by the time I got pregnant in 2007. I had a normal pregnancy and delivery, but DS was given IV/oral antibiotics at 2 weeks for an infected umbilical stump - which I believe caused some food sensitivities (both of us had NEAT energy testing for this). So we both did some healing (restricted things we tested positive for for at least a few weeks - and strictly restricted dairy and gluten for well over 8 weeks (and retested with NEAT which FWIW, showed we were both still clear of the sensitivities). After that I reintroduced some gluten into my diet. So I am mostly GF and totally CF (he is GF/CF, and eats pretty well).

We both are on HMF probiotics, Vitamin D (I tested at 15 about 4 months ago - retest 2 months ago - was 47 after supplementing with 10,000 IU) and SA; also I'm on a multivitamin, cal/mag supplement, and sometimes zinc and extra mag.

Whew! If you've stuck with me this far, thanks! So now what was the question? j/k. Oh, and I've tried komucha before - in very small quantities (not sure in S. boulardii was in it though). I have never taken S. boulardii before. Wouldn't mind getting it in food form, not sure if it'd be safe.......

Thanks for all of your continued imput - I really value it!

[WuWei]

S. boulardii displaces and replaces candida. Thus, you'll have die-off toxins from the candida (which releases mercury bound to the candida), regardless of the source of the S. boulardii. The kombucha also improves detoxification, which could add additional toxins to your circulation and thus to your breastmilk. However, kombucha also has other beneficial microbials for the gut.

I personally don't see that S. boulardii has a weighted benefit, greater than risk, while breastfeeding, if one has candida issues, especially with a history of mercury exposures.

My preference is gentle detoxification which supports gut microbial balance, without attacking the candida. This entails stomach acid improvement, nutrients for improved detoxification, and elimination of the undigested proteins which leak through the gut and cause so many people issues: dairy and gluten. Sounds like you are doing most of that. I'd consider adding kombucha after you are done nursing, or for toddler in small amounts directly, less than an ounce a day, imo.

Pat

[mellowjello]

I've used both Florastor and Kirkman's S. boullardi and thought both were very effective. My health was in a different place while taking one versus the other so I can't give a fair comparison.

I agree about being careful with killing yeast. We aren't even metal toxic, but our body ecology is so delicate that killing off lots of yeast (which is the least worrisome thing we've got) allows other stuff to grow before the body can balance itself out. So I don't target yeast to much unless it's causing really bothersome symptoms. That's just where I am with it right now.

HTH,
Jen T.