Probiotics?

[Soddingepiphany]

I was wondering if anybody knows a good quality probiotic? After a hellish winter for stomach bugs and my anxiety being through the roof I seem to have constant gastritis and after doing a bit of googling have seen that probiotics can help, can they? And which are the ones that actually work?

They are the invention of marketeers and a complete waste of money.

If you are worried about the state of your gut flora, buy a pot of natural yoghurt instead. 45p for 500g from Aldi last time I was in there.

I use Bioglan ultimate Flora and find it really helps.

Symprove is very good. You get it online and they delivery really quickly. You take it before you have anything else to eat in the morning. I took it for over a year to help with chronic iBs. You need one that is not in a dairy based product that is pure and gets straight to work. It's also about how many live bacteria it has so check that too.

Thank you for the suggestions, I've ordered some that appear to be good quality, I'll make a note of the ones suggested though. Did you really notice a difference? I don't think I have anything chronic but like I said in my pp it's just been an unlucky time recently.

Absolutely it got me through a tough time and I too go downhill even more after a tummy upset. I don't need to take it anymore. Good luck

Thank you Minime, that gives me hope!

Youghurts/Actimel type things are not effective, as they don't make it down to where they are needed.

Make sure any supplements are taken an hour after and before anything hot.

HTH

I use OptiBac and find they've made a difference to my wind (less flatulence and trapped wind) and less constipation. I have made no other changes to my diet/fluid intake or exercise routine that might explain the changes. It seems to be the bum pills. Hurrah for them.

123 thank you I didn't know about not taking them an hour before or after anything hot. Nomdeplume, bum pills made me giggle more than it should of!

I did notice thrush improved when eating lots of yeo valley yoghurt. I also sorted out a bad spell of ibs post iron tablets with biokult tablets from boots (suddenly couldn't digest milk). Optibac is supposed to be good. I do think the biokult helps if I take a lot for a couple of weeks. I also eat lots of greens, salad, coriander and porridge which seems to help too.

In fairly robust clinical trials the only one to show consistent effect for a range of bacteria was VSL-3.

Symprove was OK but not as effective. They have a fairly aggressive marketing plan at the moment.

Yakult etc survive the gut process to some extent and can be effective for people who are deficient in those strains of bacteria so they can be effective for some people.

Problem is you don't know what you're deficient in so a broad-spectrum probiotic is your best bet.

My dietitian recommended VSL following training under Professor Kevin Whelan but I'm not starting it yet as I'm waiting for hospital tests and don't want to skew them.

I know it’s been a few years but did you have much luck with the probiotic. I’m in a similar situation to you.