Acidophulis/ probiotics

[MorningRuby]

Hey guys...

I've had issues being able to digest food properly for a long time. Even after eating mostly raw for a good while now, it has gotten a little bit better and that's it. My stepdad gave me some Acidophilus, which are probiotics to help with the digestion and I'm wondering if it's a good idea to take them or if anyone here has had any experience with them, and if so, are there any side effects you noticed that I might want to watch out for, did they help, etc?
Thank you!

[Dimond]

Probiotics are great. I've been using them on & off for years and they help strengthen your immune system. Not all are created equal though. I only notice positive affects from them.

[Stina]

You sure can spend a lot of money on probiotics. I used to work at a health food store and with my substantial employee discount, got the pricey Renew Life top-shelf bottle. I can't say as I felt or saw a difference after diligently taking them for several months.

What I'm wondering is, how do we know they work? Has anyone ever read of research to show that the body assimilates them? Wouldn't that be a matter of analyzing feces, having some one swallow probiotic pills, and then analyzing feces again to measure a change of bacteria? Anyone know?

[jenjen]

hi! i think by reading both the question and the response above, it seems there's a little confusion about what probiotics actually are.

probiotics is as likely to do you harm as having an apple would, because probiotics are actually a food. well, in fact they are living bacteria...which most poeple don't realize, are as essential to our diet as eating your greens.

for 1000's of yrs, every culture has thrived off of their own formulation of probiotics. the mediteranians had yoghurt, the nordics had sour kroute, the french had sour cream, the japanese had miso...the list goes on and on. they ate these items daily to fend off disease and parasites and they taste great!

these are actually ESSENTIAL to a healthy digestive system and make up at least 70% of your entire immune system! (ever wonder why some get sick so often?).

the good bacteria (stop thinking of it as gross and think of it as delicious food!) attacks soo many of the bad things in your intestine (like candida) and they are HUGE in helping you digest, absolutely HUGE!.

don't rely on pill forms though, it is SOO hard to find one that actually has LIVING bacteria in those pills (regardless of the price tags and claims).
instead, add sour kraoute to your diet, or miso...you can make an amazingly good coconut kefir or even a coconut 'cheese' out of the meat.
all this for pennies. and the bacteria is gaurunteed to be ALIVE, LIVING AND TOTALLY RAW.

MAJOR IMPORTANT NOTE: when buying sour kraute, coconut kefir, ect. make SURE the label says "un-pasturized" other wise it is NOT a probiotic food, as they pasturized it (cooked it) and killed all the health benefits.

you will see a very big differents if you include these foods on a daily basis.

all the best!
j

[tanawana]

I've been told to just try it for a week and see if it helps. Usually a raw food diet should keep you not needing it. David Klein suggested this to myself some time ago. He is a pretty well known raw foodist and works with IBD patients also.

Other than that, I neved heard of any side effects. I think the powder is preferred to take. But then again, a local naturopathic dr. I know ues the "pearls" or whatever they are called.

[MarciRoundtheWorld]

jenjen- how do you make coconut kefir? I have kefir grains, but stopped making it when I gave up on dairy. Do I just add the grains to coconut water, same as making with milk? Oh, I can get coconuts cheap so, do tell!

What is coconut cheese? How to make it?

I make saurkraut and kim chi, but only one of my kids will eat it. I have to find something the other will eat!!

[Murray]

I make rejuvelac from cabbage, as well as sunflower "cheese" (blended sprouted sunflowers with rejuvelac, left to stand for 10 hours).
I am wondering how many strains of probiotics this contains? Do you think it's kind of the full range?

[RawSar]

We take an acidophilus also. I haven't noticed any change, no side effects. I do know that I don't have any problems with parasites though!
I don't feel it does any harm and does work to keep the bad bacteria under control and my immune system working 100% - Can't remember the last time I was sick.

We take this kind: http://www.vegangoods.com/Vegan-Acidophilus-FOS-idophilus-by-VegLife-p-437.html

[notwell]

Kal Acidophilus Probiotic and have been happy with it. There are some other goods ones out there as well, but this one is a good quality and not ridiculously expensive. I also buy supplements online to save money as well. this person is a SPAMMER and yet no one has banned them. :confused:

i use them and they work well for me/

[Murray]

It seems some people here are after bottled/"pilled" probiotics. IMO, as definitely a non-expert (be warned!), I don't see the point.

Cabbage rejuvelac, as well as sunflower "cheese", is teeming with the good stuff (ito probiotics), as far as I understand. Please tell me if I am wrong, though... ie maybe it does not have the full spectrum of good bacteria?

It's easy (and a real pleasure) to make - and I would think a better option than the bottled variety?

[liz08]

I know many raw foodies don't take probiotics, but I personally love them. 70% of the immune system is tied to the gut, so if you're gut isn't healthy, then you can't be either. You can get probiotics naturally occurring in some foods, but it's hard to get enough of them, which is why I do supplement. I like the Acidophilus Pearls (http://www.seacoastvitamins.com/topic.php?health=enzymatic+therapy+acidophilus+pea rls). They are one of the few good probiotics that don't have to be refrigerated to keep the healthy bacteria alive. They are enteric coated pills that will keep the bacteria alive until it gets where it needs to be in your digestive tract. And I have noticed positive improvements concerning digestive health and even overall health since I started taking them.

[blessteve]

Fermented vegetables have lots of probiotics and they are raw.

Also Kefir has mass quantities of bacteria and yeast, probiotic and prebiotic.
The real home made stuff not the corp. America crap.

[RawSar]

I havent been able to stomach the thought of eating rotten veggies since trying to make my own.. :eek:
I tried making it myself because I thought that would be better than taking the pills. I have never had fermented veggies before so I couldn't compare it to store bought or someone else's homemade fermented veggies, it was awful though.

whats some of your fav recipes?

[blessteve]

I havent been able to stomach the thought of eating rotten veggies since trying to make my own.. :eek:
I tried making it myself because I thought that would be better than taking the pills. I have never had fermented veggies before so I couldn't compare it to store bought or someone else's homemade fermented veggies, it was awful though.

whats some of your fav recipes?

I pick what ever is ready in the garden and go for it.

Beets and carrots have an easier taste but if it is mostly leafy greens it has a much stronger flavor.
If I put lots of cabbage in the smell is not so nice.
None of it taste good to me but it is fast easy and packed full of
vitamins, minerals and good bacteria. Also stays good for over a year so
that is free chemical free food all winter long.

[skier2]

I pick what ever is ready in the garden and go for it.

Beets and carrots have an easier taste but if it is mostly leafy greens it has a much stronger flavor.
If I put lots of cabbage in the smell is not so nice.
None of it taste good to me but it is fast easy and packed full of
vitamins, minerals and good bacteria. Also stays good for over a year so
that is free chemical free food all winter long.

I strongly suggest kombucha. It has worked wonders for me.

[mallow]

In my experience, the yummiest brand is "Real Pickles", based in New England. Ive tried a bunch, too. Maybe try one of theirs, and if you like it, try to replicate it at home. They used unrefined, sun-dried sea salt, which I love.
Theyre really good about responding to emails, too.

[RawSar]

Awesome, thank you I'm looking into it right now