Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Probiotics anyone?

Hi All,
Yeah, that idea of eating whatever I want until my book arrives, was a bad one. I am already feeling the consequences of that judgement call. I can still walk, so I am not complaining. That handful of potato chips were the best ever!!! I would like to hear some opinions about probiotics. As far as I understand it, it's to prevent an overgrowth of the yeast candida, correct? But if you don't have that problem, taking probiotics would be futile, right?
Hugs Annette

Not sure about everyone else, but i take Align, a probiotic pill everyday, and it seemingly helps with my gut issues. I had my gall bladder removed 14 months ago, and at the opinion of a gastro doc I started taking it after 6 months post surgery, because of severe issues. It worked immediately, maybe that is psychological but I think it has been a 75% improvement. Still not perfect, and I have days with problems, but all in all, better then before the probiotics.

Hi Cleveland
Thank you for replying to my post. I don't mean to pry but what kind of problems where you having and how is it better with probiotics? If it's too personal, please forgive me for asking. I am just trying to understand how probiotics can help AS, I read somewhere in a post (or a success story, I can't remember) that someone took probiotics and got better, but maybe that was just supplementary to NSD or something.
Hugs Annette

Hey Nette,

Probiotics help long term in replenishing gut with good/friendly bacteria and crowding out bad bacteria like klebs.

They help to heal gut as well.

Wrong probiotics can cause some inflamation if cheap brands, as other items they put in probiotic can also feed the bad bacteria.

I also think your symptoms may worsen if have a lot dysbiosis (bad bacteria) as they may compete with the probiotics. Not until gut is healthier may that go away.

I am a believer in them long term in helping heal gut that is important for us.

My 2 cents,

Tim

Beware of probiotics that contain inulin or starch. The starch will react to iodine but the inulin will not. Those that contain inulin will very likely state it on the label as it is seen as a 'bonus' beneficial ingredient.

I had trouble with foods that naturally contain inulin (eg. onion and garlic) but gradually was able to acclimatise my gut to it. However, I still have trouble with foods when they add powdered inulin - ie. some probiotics and some yoghurts.

Hi,
I don't usually have stomach problems(but I remember vividly the times I was on antiinflamatories), so I hope I don't run into problems with this probiotic. The ingredience: 10 billion CFU, Lactobacillus acidophilus(CUL-60), Lactobacillu acidophilus(CUL-21), Bifidobacterium(CUL-20), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis(cul-34) (formerly bifidobacterium lactis) by Genestra Brands. It says it's guaranteed not to contain starch, so that's good. So inulin is new to me, why are they adding inulin to things?

Hi Tim,
So in regards to your comment about the bad bacteria competing with the probiotics, you would think if I am cutting back on starch which feed the klepsiella(or whatever they are called) when starting to take probiotics I should be okay, because the dysbiosis wouldn't be so abundant? I feel like I am studying to be a doctor(and failing because I attended too many parties)

Tim and Zark have a good point about additives in probiotics. I found so-called "prebiotic" substances like inulin and FOS to be bad for me even in natural sources (like artichokes, which I love...)

Basically prebiotics are food for bacteria, which is a very confusing name given that they call the helpful bacteria themselves probiotics. Prebiotics are risky, because it's a boost that can fall into the wrong hands... Klebsiella is able to feed on them as well as the "good" germs. And, you can NOT count on the good bacteria in the pill outnumbering the Klebsiella even if you are on a low starch diet, because there are HUGE amounts of germs already living in your gut, orders of magnitude more than in the strongest pill.

OK here's an analogy, maybe it will make more sense than all the medical talk...

Taking probiotic pills is like planting little flower seeds among a big patch of weeds that took over your garden -- you hope they will grow to be hearty big flowers that will compete successfully with the nasty weeds, but it takes time to see results. You get better chances if you keep on planting more flower seeds over time, sometimes changing varieties looking for one that competes well in your local soil. On the other hand, spreading fertilizer with your seeds is a gamble, because the weeds may benefit at least as much as the yet-to-become-established flower seeds.

Moral to this story: keep taking probiotics, alternate among different varieties if possible, but skip the ones that have ingredients that feed Klebsiella (which eats carbs like lactose, starch, and also eats FOS, inulin). Light recommended a brand called Udo's which is available in a store near me.

There is great book "Alternative Medicine Guide to Arthritis" that discusses alternatives for arthritis. It is by Zamperon (Sp)... so long since looked at book I know i have author wrong.

You can find it at Barnes and Noble (where i bought it when living in States).

This book discusses a lot regarding healthy gut, dysbiosis and so on...

The discuss NSD on 1/2 page, but they promote different diet in book and healing gut more. But I still found book to be excellent for ideas on gut healing. I think there are two areas need to work on for gut... leaky gut and dysbiosis. This book discusses both.

Cutting back on starch should help with klebs.. but in my personal case, when I was low starch, I was still in a lot of AS pain. I had to do No Starch. Probiotics in theory should help.... but your diet would have to promote environment for friendly bacteria for long term results I would think. No Starch focuses on eliminating what Klebs need.

Just my 2 cents. Learning is powerful.. my first year with changing to NSD I must have read 40 books on diet, alternatives etc... so long ago and now in new country do not have books with me any longer and do not recall everything.

Tim

Agreed... any probiotic with FOS would set off my AS as it feeds the bad bacteria as well.

Tim