Have you tried any probiotics that work?

[iloveeverykindofcat]

So the backstory is that I need to gain a few pounds because I'm underweight right now and really lacking in energy. The problem is that my digestive system is "bad". I get a lot of stomach pain, constipation/diarrhea, indigestion, gas and bloating (sorry TMI). I've had the investigation where they put a camera down your throat before, and nothing was ever found. Plus its not a new condition, I've been like it my whole life, though its definitely gotten worse in the last few years. I would say my diet is mostly healthy though I do drink too much coffee. I very very rarely drink alcohol nowadays, simply because the stomach pain isn't worth it!

So my next avenue to try is probiotics. They're expensive, particularly if you stay on them, but if they give relief I'm willing to throw money at the problem. Can anyone reccomend any? (or conversely, are they a waste of money in your opinion?)

Kefir. Drink it daily. The unflavoured kind.
It was proven to increase healthy gut bacteria, over a 3 month period, more than probiotics or yakult type drinks.

Multibionta tablets are much better than anything in liquid form

These have really worked for me https://www.nutriadvanced.co.uk/ultra-probioplex-plus.html
They often have 3for2 offers on as well.

Oh interesting! I have heard of kefir, but sort of avoided it because I associate yoghurt with nausea, but if its more effective I will give it a go. Also its not expensive, so no huge loss if it doesn't work.
Thank you also for the tablet reccomendations!

I had a very long course of antibiotics which ruined my entire gut fauna. I found that a combo of kefir or live yogurt and also psyllium and ileum which are pre biotics.

Kefir ideally homemade. Kimchi also good.

Kefir has been added to my shopping list. I will try it at breakfast when my appetite is best. I see you can buy the cultures and grow it yourself, but I will try a shop bought one first and if I like it and it helps I will get some cultures. I will also try kimchi, I do enjoy Japanese flavours so I would probably like it.

I did gain a pound but this morning I've lost it again 😣. I need some foods that are high calorie but small volume I think because I get premature fullness.

L Plantarum 299V. Jarrow Formulas do one called Ideal Bowel Support.

Also from your symptoms you could try googling Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO). Dr Mark Pimentel is a good name to look out for.

Acacia fiber helps my IBS.

Symprove is expensive but works for me
https://www.symprove.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI05CJ9tG7hAMVWJNQBh2QGAQ0EAAYASAAEgIiZ_D_BwE

Have you ever been tested for celiac?
I use probiotics. Prov7 from Holland and barrat. They work well for me but definitely take them with food/ or after. You can get tummy ache if at night on an empty stomachs

Bio-Kult work, in the sense that they turn a saucer of milk sour overnight. You wouldn't believe how many probiotics don't, they're just charging £20 for useless powder.

I use Bio-Kult when I'm on antibiotics, otherwise I don't bother because my diet's varied and high-fibre. Kefir sounds like a good call.

Alflorex. They are a single strain probiotic and were developed to treat IBS. They have some good research behind them & definitely worked for me.

Have you tried changing your diet? Wheat, dairy, sugar are the 3 most people have trouble with.

The lightis. What are Multibionta tablets ? I used to take some tablets from sanatogen called this but haven’t been able to find any for ages.

L reuteri plus. Took for 6 months before any great improvement but 4 years down and much better.
I also found cutting out milk, yogurt, onion, garlic and soft cheese made a huge difference.
I have started to add yogurt back in but still reluctant with the rest due to the pain.

Not a probiotic and you should consult a nutritionist first, but I’ve recently heard some people find this helpful:

https://uk.thorne.com/products/dp/betaine-hcl-pepsin-450-s?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAuNGuBhAkEiwAGId4amoUBzwMUKP_YqMR3KhkLMrjzCWE5QN5hTGii-BMiSNWTN7A3VRwqhoC8HIQAvD_BwE

Maybe try kombucha if you're adverse to dairy.

Tim Spector said that a yeast called Saccharomyces Boulardii is extremely good at building up the biome after antibiotics and the only probiotic to survive anti biotics. . (I have had the recently so am currently taking it) also good for diarrhoea.

You want a mix of fermented foods taken regularly throughout the day; kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha. Coffee, tea and v dark chocolate also are fermented. And campfire coffee is a pre biotic. And then rest the gut for at least 12 hrs.

But I would start with natural yogurt (eg yeo valley) and kefir, small amounts through the day- when my stomach was a mess things like kimchi really upset it. I've been introducing that slowly.

The other thing to consider is if FODMAPs are an issue. Ideally a nutritionist should help there but I noticed that onions are garlic were my triggers. I also can't now have high histamine meat. Eg chicken thighs or left over chicken or mince. But chicken breasts are fine. I'm not eating a lot of meat though, more fish and eggs.

Not a probiotic but digestive enzymes (from Solgar) have changed my life.

Bacteria you swallow just dies in your stomach acid - that is what it is for. No probiotics "work". It would be dangerous if they did - which is why immunosuppressed people are warned to avoid them

Oh they seem to have changed brand name sorry I didn't realise

We eat plain yogurt with live cultures like Onken, Yeo Valley and often add nuts, goji berries and seeds and blueberries or sliced banana

I have tried cutting out dairy, I wouldn't say it made a huge difference but perhaps a small one (but isn't kefir dairy?) I don't think I eat much sugar, but I guess I do have small amounts eg in ketchup. I haven't tried cutting out wheat but I'm wary of losing even more weight/energy. I don't eat meat already and I have a pretty fast metabolism. However, you can get wheat free alternatives to most things nowadays I suppose.

If you want to put on weight high fat dairy will help.

Forgot cheeses - any cheese that has the potential to go off, are also good for gut.