Are probiotic drinks a waste of time and money?

Question

.. are they really beneficial for you or just a gimmick??

Answer 1

Yes, they are a waste of money. The organisms in them are inhabitants of the alkaline intestine and are killed by the gastric acids of the stomach. Also I was shocked to find that one of these "probiotic" milk drinks that was left as a free sample contains more sugar than a can of coke!

Probiotics, however, do work. You just need to take them in the form of enteric coated capsules.

Answer 2

Probiotics are fantastic and give great helath benefits however they are difficult to deliver live. Many probiotic supplements fare badly in trials as they don't deliver live bacteria which can be a difficult process. The problem with the yoghurts and drinks is that they have to get through the acid in your stomach. And since stomach acid is your first line of defence against bugs and bacteria they are only likely to get through in any numbers if you are lacking in stomach acid. You will get far better results from taking Lepicol or a good quality probiotic supplement. You could also ensure a good intake of prebiotics which help your bowel to produce its own good bacteria - good sources are Yacon and saurkraut

Answer 3

I have an autoimmune disease. One of the fun (yes that was sarcasm!) side effects is constant yeast infections. I'd go to the gyno, get a prescription, take my meds, and as soon as I was done the infection would be back. But I haven't had one yeast infection since I started taking a probiotic eight months ago. In my opinion, probiotics are life savers! I was miserable.

This is what I use:
http://naturesway.com/NaturesWay/productdetail.aspx?productid=6850

Answer 4

DON'T GET LIQUID PROBIOTIC. Bacteria needs to be stored dry with a prebiotic in order to have a long shelf life and not need to be refrigerated. The probiotic I take has 15 strains at a concentration of 35 billion CFU , and is made with a prebiotic. I learned about it at http://www.bartenblends.com

Answer 5

I don't think they are particularly good for you. I believe if you look at the ingredients list on Yakult the first one is some form of sugar (or it could be water, then sugar). Often they contain several forms of sugar - sucrose, dextrose, glucose, maltose etc.

My daughter often won't eat anything before college but has a blueberry or a strawberry Acti-mel in the car. In that way i think they are good!

Answer 6

I haven't tried the drinks, but the yoghurts definitely work for me. I used to suffer with bloating, getting worse as the day went on. My colleague recommended pro-biotic to me, as it worked for her. For me the problem was sitting down at work all day and not moving about much because I don't get the problem at home. I have one yoghurt a day and my bloating has stopped. The only down side is the reason why you get bloated - wind!! It is not a very social solution but to feel comfortable it's worth having to be very discreet!! Certainly not a waste of money for me and my problem.

Answer 7

Probiotic drinks are made by the same "food" production companies that sell you rubbish in the name of food. They make a profit out of you twice.

Answer 8

I don't generally bother with them unless I've had a stomach bug or if I'm taking antibiotics. But this could be placebo effect. I did hear that everyone's gut ecology is unique and something so generic isn't really that beneficial. But try them and if they work for you, stick with it.

Answer 9

If they are not 100% natural- yes they are a waste of money and time. Look towards probiotic herbs instead if you wish. Find a local herbalist and they can recommend what you should take. I get my herbs from www.naturessunshine.com. It's great 100% natural herbs with no fillers and very high standards for their products and customer satisfaction.

Answer 10

We are still waiting to roller skate to schools, ride supermarket trolleys and scare pigeons, just like those mum's who have suddenly gone doo-lally tap on an actimel. They don't seem to do a great deal to be honest.