Probiotics

You may have heard that you should be taking probiotics for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

What are they, anyhow? Probiotics are microorganisms like as bacteria or yeast that are available in supplements and foods. Amazingly enough, our digestive system is home to more than 500 species of bacteria, all of which help keep out intestines healthy and help with food digestion and regulate a healthy immune system.

When the balance of healthy bacteria is upset in the GI tract, like after an infection or ingestion of antibiotics, the lining of the intestines becomes damaged. Introducing new organisms, like those found in probotics, helps restore that imbalance and improves the integrity of the intestinal lining.

Probiotics are a very important tool in treating any gastrointestinal disorder, like acid reflux, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, IBS, colitis, Crohn’s Disease, and Leaky Gut Syndrome.

In order to get the maximum benefits of probiotics for IBS, there are 10 basic rules to follow when using probiotics for treatment of your Irritable Bowel Disease:

1. Conditions: Do take probiotics if you have ANY inflammatory bowel condition.

2. Refrigeration: Ensure that each probiotic is kept refrigerated. Lack of refrigeration will render them ineffective.

3. Colostrum: Always take probiotics for IBS with colostrum. Otherwise, they will not work properly.

4. Multiple bacterial strains: Do make sure that each probiotic contains multiple strains of bacteria.

5. Adequate dosage: Make sure that you ingest an adequate amount of the probiotic, whether in capsules or powder. Failing to do so is one of the biggest mistakes that people make. You don’t need to pay much attention to the “potency” or “number of bacterial units.” A typical dosage includes at least 2 capsules taken twice a day. There’s no need to worry about an overdose — that’s not possible. Find a good probiotic and take a bunch of it.

6. Post-antibiotic treatment: Always take probiotics immediately after finishing any antibiotics.

7. Yogurt myth: IBD cannot be reversed by eating lots of yogurt. While yogurt’s live bacteria may help alleviate some of your irritable bowel syndrome conditions, it is not a comprehensive treatment for IBS.

8. Food: Do not take probiotics with food. You should take them either 30 minutes prior to eating or one hour after eating.

9. Candida myth: The specialized yeast probiotic saccharomyces boulardii will NOT give you Candida — that is simply a myth. Actually, this yeast bacteria has the opposite effect — it will help eradicate Candida, as well as stop your diarrhea in its tracks.

10. Explaining your recovery: Don’t bother to try and explain to your physician how you made a complete recovery from IBS. S/he won’t understand and will attribute your recovery from IBS to a “miracle.” Well, in a way, it kinda is!

If you follow these tips for taking probiotics for IBS, you WILL get well, and if you don’t follow them, you won’t.

Want to PERMANENTLY cure your IBS, IBD, Crohn’s, diverticulitis, or other bowel disease?  Schedule a consultation with me to get your treatment started.