Is it best to take probiotics with or without food? My probiotic says to take with food but I have read the opposite is true.
Thank you!
Kenda
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
I personally haven't been taking mine with food since you are suppose to keep it atleast two hours away from your antibioitics.
I've had some abx that I was taking 3 times a day with meals, so just got in the routine of taking it away from that.
I don't know if some probiotics have different directions and to be honest, I've been doing Theralac so long, that I haven't even read the directions in ages.
I do swap probiotics off and on to get various strains, but Theralac is the one I keep coming back to. Perhaps I should reread directions, huh?
Hopefully someone that knows something will post, but for now, I'll bring this to the top.
Cathy
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think if you're taking it to aid in digestion, you are to take it with food. Most of us take it to keep yeast at bay... so either is OK.
I usually take mine away from food. {Theralac}
Posted by kdskaggs (Member # 17295) on :
I'm taking mine for yeast as well. I need to be more careful not to take it close to when I take my Doxy.
I checked out Theralac and I think the product I use is more potent. Here is a comparison:
What's Inside a Theralac� capsule?
Five Probiotic Species: Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic - 5 billion CFU Lactobacillus paracasei probiotic - 5 billion CFU Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotic - 2 billion CFU Bifidobacterium lactis probiotic (animalis) - 5 billion CFU Bifidobacterium bifidum probiotic - 3 billion CFU 20 Billion Total Colony Forming Units (CFU) 2 prebiotics that stimulate the probiotics (patent pending). Natural acid-proof gel formulation (patented).
HLC Intensive
HLC LAB4 Consortium......125 billion viable cells (may contain up to 170 billion) L. acidophilus CUL 60 L. acidophilus CUL 21 Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL 20 Bifidobacterium lactis CUL 34 Plus: Lactobacillus salivarius CUL 89 Fructo-oligo-saccharides (FOS)....... 10g Other Ingredients: Freeze dried apricot
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You really can't go by numbers to decide.
Be sure to take the probiotics two hours away from abx.
Posted by kdskaggs (Member # 17295) on :
If you don't go by numbers, what should you go by?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Whether or not it WORKS! Of course you won't find out until you try it!!
I took an ineffective one for years... then found Theralac. Was blown away by the difference. The first one was PB8.
Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
If you do a search here for probiotics you may find info, plus some other brands.
From what I have read, brands vary on
amount (billions) (such as 20 bil vs. 60 bil)
variety of individual strains: some have a few, some have more, some are important, some are exotic, some have data to support the specific strain, etc.
some brands aren't good...despite a name (theralac is not in that group!). The problem is how viable they are when you open the jar. Some studies have shown that there is less active strains than what is claimed on the label.
Most agree that refrigerated ones are better, but there are those that do use "off the shelf" and do not see a difference.
Someone had posted that Theralac would retain potency at a moderate room temperature for a few days, if you were traveling.
I like the idea the poster before mentioned, of mixing brands throughout the day, or over time.
Quantity: some take 2 a day, some recommend 60 bil a day, others take it by the handful!
FOS is the same as a pre-biotic.
Some use homemade kefir, or pickled vegetables. These provide lactobacillus. But there are other gut organisms, too.
I prefer a very broad spectrum selection just in case....! Another reason to mix brands!
B.Bifidus is important, there are a few strains of lacto that have studies.
Yeah...you thought it would be easy, huh?
!!!!
But if you are comfortable with yours, and not experiencing symptoms, (gas/bloating, skin stuff, female issues, etc), then it must be working for you.
I rotate and combine only on principle, not by symptoms.
Northstar
Posted by kdskaggs (Member # 17295) on :
Yes, Northstar, I did think it would be easy ... at least easier than it is! Time for more research!
Thanks for your help!!
Posted by lymie_in_md (Member # 14197) on :
I'm with northstar, variation in the probiotics is probably a great idea. I'm hooked on the idea of super natant friendly gut bacteria. I just started ohhirras for the second time. Prior to that, I used wholeprobiotic, before that vsl#3, before that nsi 10/35 you get the idea and about 7 or 8 others before that.
My thought is mixing strains as a good idea. We're suppose to have as many as 500 different strains of bacteria in our guts.
I've been making my own yogurt with a yogurt maker and culture it at 104 degrees for 24 hours. It is absolutely fantasic and much cheaper. This way all the lactose or sugar is gone. Add some pure vanilla extract and you have quite a treat.
I'm going through the process of adding fermented veggies as well as home made kefir to my list of natural probiotics.
Supplemented probiotics is essential but I think cultured and fermented is also very important.
Kambucha is great too! I try to have a couple of bottles each week.
Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
Usually probiotics will say on the label when to take it. Some recommend with food, some recommend in between meals. Check your labels.
I agree with others that taking a combination of probiotics during a day is really effective. The higher number/strain are the ones that work best for me. Some LLMD's recommend alternating monthly.
When my yeast is flaring or have digestive upset, I PUMP up my probiotics, big time.
KD, do you get HLC Intensive online and does it need refrigeration?
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
I'll throw this cost effective idea out there since I'm going to give it a shot. I just got some kefir grains and I'm making my own kefir from soy milk and some other recipes with vegetables and things. Kefir has a load of bacteria and yeast in it. I was taking florastor and dr. ohura's probiotics and kefir has all the strains in those and more. The thing is the kefir grains keep growing as you use them so you never run out and have to buy more. So there's an option if you're running low on cash, and it might be better even if you have cash.
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
does any one use Florastor?
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
Could you tell me what Kambucha is. I've never heard of it.
Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
Florastor has yeast in it, and it warns you not to take it with antifungals.
Q) Can I take Florastor� with my antibiotics? A) Yes you can. Florastor is yeast, antibiotics do not harm it.
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