The Power of Probiotics - Page 9

[mountain mom]

Originally Posted by balrog

Do the probiotics survive freezing? My kids love "popsicles" -- yogurt that I freeze in pop-forms

Yes, they can survive freezing..I make dd youghurt pops alot.

Originally Posted by balrog

Do all the probiotics survive in yogurt, or only the lactobacillicus (sp?) ones? If I culture milk with Jarro or PB 8, will I keep all the lovely little buggies?

This is a complicated subject. All can survive, but some cannot survive together. If the combination exsists in a probiotic supplement then it will survive cultured together because they already are cultured to be in the capsules or powder of the supplement KWIM?

Originally Posted by balrog

FYI: DS's stool quality has changed dramatically since (4 days ago) starting the PB 8 powder. He has gone from loose-as-a-goose to firm (not hard, but I'm still a little concerned about constipation). The eczema and nightwaking are not (yet?) affected, but maybe they will improve with time.

Thanks,
Balrog

To reverse symptoms of digestive disturbance such as eczema, one must be on probiotics for some time as well as making other changes in the diet such as essential fatty acids and low allergen foods that are easier for the child to assimilate and digest.

But over time you will see a big difference for sure. Everyone is so different it will be hard to pinpoint a timeline of this.

[MomInFlux]

Originally Posted by mountain mom

3) Get your probiotic ready. (This is to make starter, if you have made your starter already then use 1/4 cup of that per 1 litre of milk to make the next batches)

4) Take a small portion of the cooled milk and mix the starter or already cultured youghurt and mix gently.

5) Add this to the cooled milk. Stir in gently to avoid creating bubbles and more oxygen.

6) Incubate* for 6-12 hours depending on the thickness you want

I may have to start a thread called "Probiotics for Dummies" because I feel so stupid about all of this...

So, for #3 above, the probiotic stirred into the heated-up milk substitutes for a store-bought yogurt starter? I've been making yogurt in a yogurt maker by heating a quart of milk with 1/2 C of dry milk, adding 1/2 C of Mountain High plain yogurt, stirring, and then incubating the whole mess. It's tasty, but I figure I'm missing out on some good stuff, which is why I want to add (additional?) probiotics.

Sigh...sorry for the elementary questions...

[mountain mom]

Originally Posted by MomInFlux

So, for #3 above, the probiotic stirred into the heated-up milk substitutes for a store-bought yogurt starter?

Exactly!

I also will use a 1/4 cup of store bought youghurt (plain whole milk) to stir the probiotic in because it is difficult to completely mix it with milk only without clumps. It seems to mix better with youghurt and then adding that to the heated, yet cooled milk.

HEY, there are no stupid questions by the way. We all started out wondering all the same quesitons as you. Once you understand the variables of culturing then it becomes easier.

Two books to check out are

Nourishing Traditions and Wild Fermentation.

If you google them you will see a content list.

[MomInFlux]

Cool! MM - you're helping so much!

One more question (for now ) - Do you use the probiotics capsules for each batch of yogurt you make, or is it OK to reserve 1/4 - 1/2 C of the yogurt made from the probiotic starter to use as starter for subsequent batches? If it's OK to use the yogurt as starter for subsequent batches, how many future batches would you make before starting a new one with the probiotic capsules? Thanks! (again)

[amnesiac]

the probiotic stirred into the heated-up milk substitutes for a store-bought yogurt starter?

Depending on what's in your probiotic. If yours doesn't have L Bulgaricus & S thermophilus it won't turn out like you expect without also adding yogurt starter.

is it OK to reserve 1/4 - 1/2 C of the yogurt made from the probiotic starter to use as starter for subsequent batches? If it's OK to use the yogurt as starter for subsequent batches, how many future batches would you make before starting a new one with the probiotic capsules?

It's okay to do that. Reserve some from new batch A to start batch B. Then reserve some from Batch B to start batch C etc. The longer you store it, the less likely it is to work well for you so you need to make them fairly frequently. I just use the probiotic for each batch though.

[MomInFlux]

You guys are so cool!

[mountain mom]

Ditto

[balrog]

Thanks for all the helpful info, especially responses to my query.

We have already tried a few thousang thing to reduce the eczema, including eliminating dietary allergens and increasing B vits and Omega acids. Nothing has worked. But now we're trying probiotics, no uncultured dairy, and B vits. Should probably do vit E and Omegas too.

I have to drag out the ol' yogurt-maker and try culturing my PB 8. It's been a while since we made yogurt, but for those folks who have been asking about making it-- the quality of your yogurt depends a LOT on the starter you use. Get a nice tart starter if you want a tarter end product. Also, we found that longer incubating (like, 19 hours) resulted in a tarter, thicker, more flavorful yogurt. I don't see how that would damage the probiotics, but if it would, someone please correct me!

[Gale Force]

balrog -- I culture my yogurt for at least 24 hours to reduce the lactose in the end product, so I agree with you

[mountain mom]

ITA as well.

[Ms.Doula]

Amanda- Theres nothing wrong with my grains... their perfectly fine. I just have too many AND an wanting to try water kefir now.... kinda burnt out I guess...
BTW I feel like such an about my last post I believe Amber & I are due about the same time you were you are in my prayers. PLEASE deal with the loss. It will help you heal for the long haul. HOPE to see you next month!!! -Love ya


Now back to your regularly scheduled Probiotic Posts.....

[zanelee]

This may have been answered before, but I can't remember.
Can you freeze the bacteria and they still be alive and well once thawed?
TIA!

[Gale Force]

zanelee -- there are probiotics that are freeze dried, but I think I've read that the process kills them or weakens them, so I am guessing no.

And on the totally sideline topic: glad your grains are fine Melissa, I thought you had to order more ffrom someone on Dom's site. I also had no idea that Amber was pregnant. That's great. I am out of touch. I will try to go to the Oct mtg.

[Gale Force]

Oh, and a sideline funny: my husband tried to mail kefir grains on Monday but needed a priority mail box and so just had the grains in the doubled baggies. The postmaster wouldn't mail them -- he said if they leaked that the postal service workers would freak out. So I'll mail them this Monday.

[hnybee]

I totally thought it was okay to freeze your probiotics. That is where I have been keeping mine. Usually they are stored in the fridge at the health food store. I am going to email the PB8 people and see what they say. I will let you all know what I find out.

I'd hate to have to throw out all the probiotics i've been using. we'll see......

[Penalt]

I know probiotics are good things but everytime I hear their name I can't help wondering when those biotics lost their amateur status......

[Gale Force]

Originally Posted by Penalt

I know probiotics are good things but everytime I hear their name I can't help wondering when those biotics lost their amateur status......

LOL. I'll never think of them the same way again.


Oh, and I really don't know about the freezing, so I hope no one throws out their stash....

[mountain mom]

In this thread and in the thread "Lets get Cultured" there was a user that was a microbiologist that knew all kinds of information about freezedried probiotics versus live.

I wish I could remember her name. I will try to find the time to look back through.

I think if anyone is worried their probiotics are inert should try to culture a bit to test them before tossing.

[Sisyphus]

OK this falls under the heading of TMI... but I've got to ask and you all are the only people who might know...

I started taking Dr. Udo Erasmus' probiotics about 5 or 6 days ago. Today I started having the most amazingly obnoxious gas... OMG... it would make your eyes water!!!

Is this a "side effect" (hopefully a positive one?) of taking the probiotics?? I am taking two a day (one in the am and one pm), should I lower or raise the amount I'm taking?? Or will this just resolve on it's own? Or, alternatively, is the gas totally unrelated to the probiotics?

Also, while I have you here.... does anyone here use "Custom Probiotics"?? Their product looks impressive and I called and talked to the owner and he sounded knowledgeable (but, I am a newbie, so I don't really know enough to make that judgment, kwim?) so I thought I'd ask you all if you like them or not www.customprobiotics.com


Thanks a million!

Lo

[mountain mom]

Hey lo,
I have not tried the custom label. But I can tell you that your gas and flatulence is caused by the probiotic. In very non scientific terms what is happening is that there is a turf war happening in your digestive system. The good vs the evil. The good will prevail. Keep taking the probiotic, watching for the quality and consistencey of your bowel movement and regulating your dosage based on that.