Probiotics and...ahem...gassy problems...

[victoriaplum01]

DH and I are just getting over the norovirus - the nurse practionner at our local surgery suggested probiotics to help our guts recover from the experience. We've never taken them before so bought some Yakult to give it a try. Now we are feeling incredibly bloated and extremely gassy (both ends ). It's not Christmas over-indulgence, so we are wondering if it is the Yakult to blame?

Does anyone know if this is a common side-effect? Are there better probiotics that we should try?!

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

Hmm, I find it does the opposite! How long have you been taking them for? It could be you'd have the gas anyway and it's not as bad as it could have been with the Yakult?!

[Jacksmania]

Hmmm. Can you get Bio K yoghurt where you are? IMHO it beats the pants off any other probiotic.

[victoriaplum01]

Jacksmania I've not heard of that brand. Do you know which supermarket stocks it?

We've stayed off the Yakult for a couple of days and the "situation" has improved I'm going to do a control test in a day or two to see if the problem reoccurs. I think I'll have to investigate other options too.

[sipper]

For decent and effective probiotic get a powder. Avoid supermarket stuff and own brand and yogurt drinks. A very good make is Biocare. Get from an independent health shop. Worth it

[Jellykat]

I cant take probiotics in tablet form, as i get the same problem, but i can have endless amounts of live yoghurt.
I think maybe people react differently to different forms of probiotics..

Its always been my understanding that taking it in a drink/ yoghurt that contains sugar, makes it worthless, as the bacteria you're trying to knock out, thrives on sugar..

[sipper]

The powder form apparently delivers it more effectively to the right part of the digestive system. Also if you are trying to replenish good stuff after a bout of illness, or after (and during) antibiotics, take the probiotic mixed into water last thing at night.

[Jacksmania]

Oh no - just Googled and apparently you can't get it in the UK :(
Sorry.
I'm in Canada and had this idea that it actually came from Europe but no, it's from North America.

What's special about it is that it has an insane number of live cultures of various strains so it's the bomb for an upset GI tract. They give it to people who are having chemo at our locan hospital. I once had the mother of all yeast infections and took it internally, and, well, internally and it sorted it right out.

I hope you get some other good suggestions.

[sipper]

GI Balance is a mega blend for upset digestive tract. Buy online from Victoria Health. For regular probiotic use including during and after antibio's Biocare powder form probiotics are excellent quality.

[victoriaplum01]

Thank you sipper - you sound very knowledgeable. I will have a look at the options you suggest.

[sipper]

Sorry, I miswrote product name, it is fast balance Gi www.victoriahealth.com/product/Fast-Balance-GI/2425/0/

[Sugarbeach]

I swear by the Biocare children's strawberry powder whenever I feel bloated and gassy and generally he digestive system not feeling tip top.

[sipper]

We give our dd's the Biocare kids acido, mentioned by Sugarbeach. V good stuff. We have adults acido.