The Power of Probiotics - Page 10

[Gale Force]

lolov -- definitely stick with it despite the gas.\

On the custom probiotics, it seems like folks here have considered taking them, but I haven't heard a review from anyone who did. The combination of yogurt and kefir have worked really well for me (and hit a lot of bases) to fight candida. Of course, that's been with a candida diet too.

[amnesiac]

Looks to me like the Custom product is more potent so some people might not tolerate them that well if you're taking a whole capsule. The Udo Erasmus adult product says it contains 12 billion/capsule (which is similar to the 12 billion/ 1/4 t green label JarroDophilus though the species content is a little different) & the Custom site says "25 billion per capsule guaranteed at date of expiry...Our latest independent laboratory test results indicate 66 billion total bacterial count per capsule. " And I'd NEVER pay $40/bottle either.

[Sisyphus]

Thanks everyone for your input!!! I was beginning to feel like I was about to explode or something because... OMG... I smell like sewer!! That just tells me that my innards are YUCK!!! I am assuming that this is a positive sign that the probiotics are working

Amnesiac... ??? I'm confused... you said the custom probiotics looked like they were pretty potent, but you'd "never spend $40 a bottle"... I was thinking of buying the powder... it's $90 for 50g (for my whole family... adults use a large scoop and kids use a small scoop... both provided) which I thought was more cost effective than buying capsules. The Udo Erasmus caps I have are $16 per bottle of 30 caps @ 15 billion guaranteed at "best by" date. Since the custom probiotics was guaranteed and independently tested at 60+ billion, I just assumed it was better (see, I'm a newbie... more = better... LOL) Should I hold off or is there a better/less expensive product out there?

BTW, I got my husband to take these probiotic caps three times a day. He's had persistent heartburn, IBD/IBS etc. for YEARS and I'm banking on this regimen (once we get the dosage right) to get him off all of the stupid meds he's been taking (there's $200 a month). I will keep you all updated... I'm just so excited that he agreed to take these!!! He's already noticed that he's, uh, "stinkier" than usual, so I'm hoping that's a good sign of things to come!

Thanks to everyone again! I never would have learned about probiotics if it weren't for you all here!


Lo

[amnesiac]

The Udo product is $16/30 doses. The green label Jarrow I use is $13/70 doses (1 dose=1 gram=1/4 t). They contain about the same # of organisms/dose but the species are a little different. Of course, I grow mine up in yogurt so I'm not really dosing us out of the bottle every day & it goes farther.

I didn't look at the Custom powder pricing before, just the capsules. I just would never pay $40 for something that potent that I had no idea if I'd like or tolerate. Just realize that your experience with the gassiness etc will be magnified if you suddenly double/triple your dose & you may or may not tolerate it. I don't know how much their large/small scoops are so I have no idea what volume/organism count they are using per dose for the powders but they must be super tiny scoops.

[Ms.Doula]

where have you all found your Jarrow for $13/70 doses???

I was getting a freeze dried variety at Trader Joes, and I know its probably not Near as good... but it was 7.00 for 30 caps. & better than nothing... well now Im out & I want to try the Jarrow

[amnesiac]

My little health food store carries it. Their prices are usually lower than say Whole Foods so it may be a little higher elsewhere. They make a few different products & this is the one I get because it's the highest potency & since it's not in capsules it's easy to make yogurt with:
http://www.jarrow.com/products/Jarro...sfospowder.htm

[Sisyphus]

Amnesiac: Thanks for clarifying!!! It's so hard to know what someone means when you aren't "talking" in person, kwim?

I think I'm going to try the custom probiotics powder and start with the
"baby" scoop for my dh and I and just about half a baby scoop for the kids.

Do you know if the probiotics go through to the breast milk?? I wonder because since I've been taking the probiotics, my ds's bm's have been very soft and very stinky... tho, he's teething as well, so maybe that has something to do with it????

Thanks again for your input... I will let you know how I tolerate the CP powder

[balrog]

probiotics DO go thru in breastmilk

Yes, it seems clear (based on good studies (double-blind placebo-controlled)) that probiotics go thru in the breastmilk. In (at least) one such study, young infants (under 6 mos) got benefits from probiotics regardless of whether they or their mothers were taking the probiotic.

Doing a search on "lactobacillicus" (sp?) and "eczema" my MIL found 4 articles in the Cochran Library (archive of good research, esp for perinatal stuff), all 4 of which found a positive effect of probiotics for infants (reduction of cases of eczema & allergies, plus other possible benefits (asthma). These positive effects occurred in infants whose mothers were taking the probiotic equally to the good effects in infants who were themselves being given the probiotic. (All or virtually all of the babies in the study were breastfed.)

[ComaWhite]

It smells good, tastes fine but has stringy strands of mucous like stuff throughout it and its lumpier than usual. It had ALOT of whey on the top.

This happens to me if I use a goats milk starter in cows milk or vice versa.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by balrog

Yes, it seems clear (based on good studies (double-blind placebo-controlled)) that probiotics go thru in the breastmilk. In (at least) one such study, young infants (under 6 mos) got benefits from probiotics regardless of whether they or their mothers were taking the probiotic.

The Lactobacillus GG studies were sponsored by Culturelle:
www.culturelle.com and are posted along with other food allergy information in their Research section.

It is a very potent probiotic strain, but expensive. $18 per 30 capsules of 10 billion. I will say once our naturopath started DS on this his poops got firm within a day or 2 and he had already been on Baby Jarrowdophilus for a month. I have no doubt it contributed to his improvement.

[MyLittleWonders]

First of all, this is an awesome thread. I have learned so much! Right now I am trying to make some yogurt in the crockpot (making yogurt without a yogurt maker), but am looking at buying a yogurt maker on-line. My question is this: If I want to add some sweetener, do I add it before I begin culturing it or after it's already turned into yogurt? I was thinking of making some vanilla yogurt with a little sweetener (sugar?) and a little vanilla extract but didn't know when to put it in. Also, does 2% milk work? That's what I'm trying today. And, I have some baby/children's probiotic powder that is strawberry flavored ... has anyone used a flavored probiotic to make yogurt? Does it come out good? And, what machine should I get? I'm looking for ease of use and also money ... hoping to keep it under $50 (I'd love it that included shipping). Thanks!

[Lexymama]

I have some probiotic powder that my dd asked me to taste last week. After she tasted it she asked for a bowl of it to eat, so I gave her a few tablespoons in a bowl and she loved it! She kept asking for more, so I gave her a couple of more tablespoons. Anyway, now she wants to eat it everday like a treat. How much is too much?

[mountain mom]

Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders

My question is this: If I want to add some sweetener, do I add it before I begin culturing it or after it's already turned into yogurt? I was thinking of making some vanilla yogurt with a little sweetener (sugar?) and a little vanilla extract but didn't know when to put it in. Also, does 2% milk work?

I can answer a few of your questions.

The firmest and most successful youghurt comes from milk with fat. So 2% is fair but whole is better.

I would avoid sugar all together as it will most definately interfere with the ability of the body to absorb all the nutrients in the youghurt and it interferes with the purpose of probiotics which is to increase the flora of the digestive system. Sugar increases negative bacteria in the d.s. so sugar and probiotics in my opinion do not mix.

If you need a sweeter taste then add a drop or two of stevia extract to the finished product. Or simply add puried fruit when serving such as blueberries or apples to help flavour it.

This way you can use your plain unflavoured yougurt for other dishes that are more savoury in flavour such as greens and quinoa with youghurt dressing.

HTH

[mountain mom]

Originally Posted by Lexymama

I have some probiotic powder that my dd asked me to taste last week. After she tasted it she asked for a bowl of it to eat, so I gave her a few tablespoons in a bowl and she loved it! She kept asking for more, so I gave her a couple of more tablespoons. Anyway, now she wants to eat it everday like a treat. How much is too much?

I think the answer to that would be how your dd's bowel movements have been.

Too much probiotic at once can cause very loose stool with tummy upset.

Everyone is different. It also depends on the probiotic powder itself. How many millions of bacteria are present and how many strains.

Watch her poop for signs of overuse.

[Lexymama]

Thanks mountain mom!

[MyLittleWonders]

Thanks Mountain Mom! Okay, my next question ... my yogurt still isn't setting ... it's quite runny and has been "cooking" for over 4 hours. Does this mean the probiotics I used are bad or not living any more? Is there something else that I did wrong? Thanks again

[mountain mom]

The longer you incubate your youghurt the firmer it becomes. Sometimes I incubate as long as 15 hours. The key is to test a portion of your probiotic for viability by culturing a small amount (like 1/4 cup of milk) to be sure its active. Another pointer is to make sure your incuation temperature stays consistent.

HTH

[Megs Mom]

Originally Posted by JaneS

The Lactobacillus GG studies were sponsored by Culturelle:
www.culturelle.com and are posted along with other food allergy information in their Research section.

When I went on a severe elimination diet while breastfeeding Meg (has eczema), I saw a nutritionist and this is the brand he recommended. He also told me Houston Buyers' Club has some of the best prices for it.

[Megs Mom]

Question: I made yogurt from soy milk with a cultured soy ("soy yogurt") starter. I added some "Dairi Free", which is the non-dairy equivalent of powdered milk. I used my electric skillet with water in it to hold the container while it cultured. It turned out pretty well, with one exception: it molded two days after I made it. I thought I was being careful about sterility. A friend suggested maybe my starter should come from a brand new container and not one that has been open for several days?

[G-Dawg]

I am ready! How many Jarro capsules should I add to a quart of milk? It is better to mix that into yougurt, then the milk? Does it make a difference if it is homemade soy milk or cows milk? I am pretty sure this was already covered, but I have been reading this thread over a few days and now I can't find it.
Thanks!
G