Probiotic Recommendations?

[JeanneP]

I'd like to start taking a probiotic again having tried two brands in the recent past--Perque and Daily Dophilus. I know this is a huge topic, but I'd like to start with something I can get without a professional account and that is cost effective. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jeanne

[MistyH]

Jeanne
Are you interested in boosting your immune system?  You can find pro-biotics at the health food store.  My advice would be the refrigerated section and try to look for a multiple strain with 3 billion minimum CFU's. 

[JeanneP]

Hi Misty,

I was interested in specific brand recommendations as I hear the quality varies widely.

Thanks,
Jeanne

[jodi f.]

I've heard the Jarrow products retain their potency and are high quality. I haven't used these for several years now, so I can't speak directly about them. However, they tend to be high potency and affordable.

I use a professionals-only product by BioSan Labs. They have a retail line of supplements--whole foods supplements--called Mega Foods, which I recommend overall. The company appears to be offering their professional probiotic product in this line. It's called MegaFlora and contains 20 billion organisms and 14 different strains. I've discussed the manufacture of this product with the company's technical director, and I'm convinced of the viability and potency of the organisms. I don't believe you'll find this in the refrigerated section, though. Some people feel that the humidity in refrigerators destroys these bacteria.

[ColetteS]

Hi, being on a budget right now I have started on Acidophilus I bought in Ventura  on a resent trip home. The maker is Country Life it is kept in the refrigerated section of the store the price was around $15.00. Seems to be working.


Colette

[ShannonS]

I have had great success battling Candida and parasites with Metagenics probiotics and Pharmax's probiotics.  They seem to be consistent with their products.  It is expensive, but it works!  Depending on your health, one bottle may be enough to recolonate your gut.  These products are typically higher amounts of living organisms (20-170 billion). 

You can buy them both at Pharmaca.   

www.pharmaca.com/

Practitioners get a discount for sure.  Ask about a student discount. 

[kk4health]

Hi! Jeanne,

The best probiotics, recommended by my alternative Dr., is from GI Pro Health.  Their website: www.GIProHealth.com.  I use the yogurt machine and starter.  I make my own almond milk for this process.  Very economical!  With this method, the total cost is $80.00.  The starter makes 120 liters.  I purchased the items 4 months ago and still using the starter.  Their website hold a lot of great information!

Good Luck, Kim

[ErinL]

I second the vote for Pharmax brand probiotic products. They have a high potency daily product that contains 8 billion per capsule plus FOS. I recommend this for people who suspect they may have dysbiosis or they want to boost immunity. Their maintenance product contains 2 billion per capsule plus FOS and is great daily supplement. Retail price comes out to be about 40¢ per capsule or $25 for 60 capsules (2 months worth).
If you've been on antibiotics, their intensive product is for re-colonization post antibiotics as each capsule contains 24 billion plus FOS. They also have sachets with 125 billion for those with IBD.

FYI
Pharmax has lead the world's research in probiotics as well as being one of the leading brands in UK/Europe for the last 15 years.

[JeanneP]

Many thanks to those who posted with their recommendations!

Jeanne

[MistyH]

What are everyones thoughts on FOS?  I've heard a few negative reports in regard to FOS recently.  One is the claim that FOS can feed candida if you are working on a cleanse and the other that it affects the gut negatively.

[blujay]

Hello all you probiotic fans.

I'm glad you are so interested in wanting to build and nourish the community within.

I would recommend to just save your hard earned dollars and make your own sauerkraut.

Yup, sauerkraut!

Here is a few quick reasons to go this route instead of buying probiotic supplements.

-The count of microbes was at the date of manufacture, and no matter how you store it (unless it has a continual food source) the cell counts are constantly dieing. So when you get it a few months later, it may have lost as much as two thirds the cell count.
 
-Its cheap!
-Its local
-you actually know what your microbes were grown on.
-no toxic excipents
-Up to 10 trillion live microbes per gram
-28 or even more variety of probiotics
-The varieties aren't isolated, grown and recombined for packaging. They grow in a well balanced ecology (cabbage substrate) that closely matches your balanced ecology in your gut.

Check out some more posts on this subject.

In the mean time, get some organic cabbage, sea salt, massage and jar it. In one weeks time you'll have more live active probiotics than the whole probiotic section of your health food store!

Ferment for your health!