Do pro-biotics really do anything?????

Question

Or am i just wasting my money? My gastroenterologist suggested them (of course he said i should use most expensive lol) and i am wondering what in the world do they actually do and where is the proof? Are they approved by the food and drug admin??

probiotics and antibiotics are two different things!

Answer 1

yes probiotics work. But why are you taking it? Acidophilus is a probiotic. It helps increase the bacteria activity in the intestines. Without the bacteria, the food in your intestines wouldn't be turned into a paste that gets absorbed into the blood stream. Why did the doctor suggest pro-biotics? Are you having a digestive problem? You need to look at the stomach and colon too. They are all connected. If one of them doesn't work, they all take a vacation. Get a book called Nutrition Almanac. Read the first three chapters. All the answers are there.

Answer 2

there is some evidence they actually help, i think it depends on the species of bacteria/brand youre using (i dont know enough about them to suggest a brand) they arent a wonder cure or anything though. basically what they do is take up space so bad bacteria cant cause problems related to SIBO or IBS. basicaly the theory is this: your intestines have a limited amount of resources for bacteria to grow- so if you load up on bacteria that wont cause problems, bacteria that cause problem cant grow as easily. think of it like trying to avoid a nasty person on a park bench. if the park bench is a lot of space on it, that nasty person can sit down next to you. but if the bench is full of people that dont smell bad, the smelly old guy person wont have a seat to sit in

people also think oral probiotics work for yeast infections and BV (which is why some people say women who get that stuff a lot should eat lots of yogurt), but that's not true. they might work as a vaginal suppository but there is no way they can get down there taking them orally

Answer 3

One of the best and inexpensive probiotic is Keifer.
It has more live cultures than yogurt. I bought a starter online for less than $5 and make my own everyday.
It's super easy. Just add milk each day and it produces a live cultured drink. You can get instructions when you purchase the starter.

It has cleared my intestinal upsets and I always give it to my kids after a round of antibiotics to get the good bacteria back.

Answer 4

There is actually a study on yogurt (an affordable and tasty sort of probiotic) that showed that women who ate yogurt with live cultures of acidophilus daily had significantly fewer yeast infections over time than the control group.

Answer 5

I wondered the same thing about anti-biotics..until i nearly died from infection.

Now i don't second guess.

Answer 6

Probiotics are the healthy bacteria you need for good health & digestion. I eat yogurt and drink (store bought) Komucha daily . . .

Answer 7

Hi BeckyBean

Ive heard of them before and I looked pro-biotics up on a website I subscribe to and they are suppose to be good for acne. By the way anything passed by the FDA, will never have my appoval. Here is the info used to help with the diet in acne.

Natural Cures for Acne

Aromatherapy: Massage affected areas with bergamot, camphor, geranium, juniper, lavender, or neroli essential oils.

Ayurveda: Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine recommend applying tumeric and sandalwood paste (1/2 teaspoon of each and enough water to make a paste) to pimples, and drinking half a cup of aloe vera juice twice daily until acne clears.

Diet: Whole foods diet with special emphasis on vegetables (four to five servings per day, try to eat half of servings raw) and whole fruits (one to three times per day). The more severe the acne, the more you should reduce animal fats (saturated). Some people get acne in response to stressor foods such as caffeine, refined sugars, and alcohol. Processed foods such as colas, candies, and frozen and processed foods may also be a problem. Be sure to increase your intake of pure water and eat more fiber foods.

Mono-cleansing diets for one to two days per week for several months may be helpful in people who are not hypoglycemic (low blood sugar), debilitated, or require food to keep up strength for working. Examples of a mono-diet might include one steamed vegetable such as broccoli and brown rice without any animal products. Use pro-biotics, found in the chilled section of your health food store as directed on label. Fasting one day a week may also be helpful. Consider colon, candida, and liver cleansing .

Best of health to you

Answer 8

you can eat blueberries and they serve the same purpose,
probably cheaper and tastier.

there are other foods that offer probiotic benefits. look them up on
the web.