Can I Use Probiotics To Help With Medical Conditions
There is currently a large amount of research happening around the idea of what probiotics can do for your body. Even though there are a lot of possibly positive outcomes, researchers are still working to find definitive answers about how probiotics can help with various conditions.
However, there are some medical conditions where probiotics may help. This can vary between people meaning that what works for one person may not work for another. These can also vary based on the certain probiotic that is taken.
Some of the conditions that might be helped by increasing the amount of probiotics in your body include:
- Upper respiratory infections .
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How Long Should Align Be Taken
NICE guidance suggests people who wish to try probiotics be encouraged to select one brand and take it at the recommended dose for at least four weeks while monitoring the effect.
Particularly, research shows that Align® helps relieve gas, bloating, and abdominal pain/discomfort in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome . In addition, Align® might help to promote digestive health by modifying the microbiome in people without IBS.
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How Much Should I Expect To Spend On My Daily Probiotics
The price for supplements varies depending on the ingredients, the type of probiotic, and the brand.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when trying to find a cheap but quality supplement: for example, buying a large quantity can save you money in the long run.
Also, remember that you don’t have to buy the most expensive one on your local store shelf. The supplements that are priced higher than others don’t necessarily mean they are better.
Other factors like where the product is manufactured, how many strains of bacteria it contains, etc., can affect its price. Some brands may charge more for their probiotics simply because they have sought out high quality ingredients and put a lot of research into making sure their supplement is effective.
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Probiotics Can Cause Constipation By Revealing Underlying Digestive Issues
Probiotics typically reduce constipation. According to several studies, probiotics were found to increase the average number of weekly bowel movements by 1.3, and generally supported softer stools that were easier to pass. These studies found Bifidobacterium to be the most effective probiotic for supporting regular digestive health.5
Because constipation is not typical when taking probiotics, experiencing constipation with probiotics may be a sign that you do not have enough fiber or water in your diet. In these instances we recommend increasing consumption of fiber with your probiotics. You can also start taking prebiotic fiber with your probiotics. Be sure to select one that is organic and diverse so your probiotics can have good food to thrive.
Is It Safe To Take Probiotics During Pregnancy
Most experts say that it is perfectly fine to take probiotics during pregnancy because your baby gets their first dose of healthy bacteria from you when they are born through breast milk or vaginal delivery.
Your gut health will be directly related to how well your own digestive system and immune system are operating, which means that you need to take care of yourself during pregnancy.
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Results Of Systematic Search
The initial number of publications found were 536. After the title and abstract review and removal of duplicates, we included 33 papers for the full-text analysis phase. Finally, we extracted data from 18 publications . The results from guidelines and recommendations on probiotic utility in constipation are presented in and . In parallel we compared the results of meta-analyses/systematic reviews that evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in constipation.
Probiotics Can Cause Allergic Reactions
Another possible side effect of taking probiotics is an allergic reaction. Humans can be allergic to just about anything, including milk which is often used in the probiotic production process.
The purification process used in the production of some probiotics such as Nexabiotic® Advanced should remove most of these allergens.
If you are lactose intolerant you should be able to tolerate the small amounts of milk in probiotics. Furthermore, probiotics themselves break down lactose. This is the reason why probiotic-loaded kefir yogurt is advertised as being lactose-free.
However, if you have developed an allergic reaction to milk ingredients that results in problems breathing then you should avoid probiotics.
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Systematic Review Of Literature
We conducted PubMed and Google Scholar searches using the following search strings: 1. AND probiotics AND and 2. title: probiotic AND guidelines, to evaluate the opinion of health-related authorities toward probiotics in constipated patients. The electronic search was supplemented by a manual review of the reference lists from eligible publications and relevant reviews. The search was carried out from the databases creation until 15.04.2019.
Our inclusion criteria were as follows
documents , in which the effectiveness of probiotics in patients with constipation/FGIDs/healthy persons with infrequent bowel movements was analysed
documents in humans
reports with no constipation-related outcome
reports in patients with diarrhoea-predominant IBS
reports in which patients with IBS were not stratified into subtypes and documented no constipation-related outcomes.
Align Probiotic Testimonials From Customers
Align Probiotic has made a huge name for itself as one of the leading probiotic brands on the market in several different product reviews.
In fact, its such a popular supplement that its a #1 Doctor and Gastroenterologist probiotic supplement, and it earned the 2010 Gold Edison Award for health innovation.
In addition, its not hard to find a positive review for these probiotics.
For example, take a look at some of these
I was extremely miserable my stomach was so heavy I felt and looked pregnant. I was so bloated, uncomfortable and tired all the time.
Once I started taking align all that changed and I never felt better. I stand by this product and highly recommend this for anyone who is having problems with their digestive system.
Id been struggling with IBS for years and started trying different probiotics in hopes that one would work. After a few, Im happy to report that this is the one that works for me! I noticed a difference within a few days. No more bloating or gurgling sounds from my stomach. I only wish I had found this product sooner!
So many real customers who reviewed this product found that it was effective for helping minimize stomach discomfort.
In particular, irritable bowel syndrome patients highly recommended this probiotic because it helped minimize their issues.
Of course, everyones body reacts to supplements differently, so its well worth noting the reviews that mention gastrointestinal upset as a side common side effect.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Ibs
The primary symptom of IBS-C is constipation.
This may be accompanied by abdominal discomfort, bloating, pain and/or diarrhea. Infrequent bowel movements, hard stool, pellet-like stool and ribbon-like stool are also common symptoms of IBS-C.
The symptoms can vary from person to person and they may include abdominal pain, bloating, feeling full quickly after eating small amounts of food, diarrhea alternating with constipation , nausea and vomiting.
The cause of this syndrome is unknown but may involve dietary factors such as low fiber intake or excessive consumption of certain foods like caffeine or alcohol.
Stress and emotional distress may also be factors as the syndrome is mostly associated with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
The Best Probiotic Strains For Regularity
There are several strains of friendly bacteria that have been shown to be beneficial in helping to supporting regularity in various clinical studies. The best probiotic supplements should contain strains which have been specifically researched for constipation including:
- Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12®
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG®
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Now Foods Berrydophilus Chewables
This very affordable probiotic has 10 probiotic strains and 2 billion CFUs. Kids can chew 1 to 3 chewable tablets daily depending on if they need extra probiotics to help with a particular issue.
The strains included in this supplement are L. acidophilus, B. lactis, L. plantarum, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. paracasei, B. breve, streptococcus thermophile, L. salavarius and B. longhum. To keep all those microorganisms alive, store this probiotic in the fridge.
The Berrydophilus flavor is very tasty and is sweetened by xylitol to help protect kids teeth. Whats even better is this supplement is effective and affordable, available in a 120 count supply. So if your child is experiencing some serious digestive woes or needs a daily probiotic to help boost immunity or prevent any digestive issues, definitely consider this probiotic.
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With 6 probiotic strains and 3 billion CFUs, this probiotic is perfect for kids who need a little help with their digestive and immune system. This chewable tablet is berry-licious and naturally sweetened with xylitol and contains no artificial flavors or coloring. However, some kids may not like the chalky texture of it.
This supplement contains a good blend of probiotics including L. acidophilus, B. lactis, B. breve, L. salivarius, and L. plantarum. To keep those bacteria kicking, store in a cool, dry place or preferably in the fridge.
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Do Probiotics Help With Constipation
Jessica Moon
Probiotics help alleviate constipation in children, pregnant women, and adults of all ages. Specific strains increase the speed at which food moves through the digestive tract, helping you to go more frequently. They also improve the consistency of stool, making it less painful to pass.
Feeling a little backed up? Youre not alone. An estimated 14-16% of adults worldwide are believed to experience constipation at any given time. But depending on how you define the condition, that number can reach 80%.
Regardless of how its defined, we all know how awful constipation can feel. Over-the-counter remedies like stool softeners, laxatives, and bulking agents can be a quick fix, but research shows that almost half of constipation sufferers dont get the relief theyre looking for.
Getting probiotics through fermented food or dietary supplements, offers an alternative to traditional constipation interventions. These good gut bacteria perform specific actions that get your digestion back on track.
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Ultimately, theres some promising evidence that probiotics may help with constipation, but more research is needed for scientists to agree on how useful they are.
Its also worth knowing that different probiotic strains have different effects. Those from a group called Bifidobacterium seem to be the best for making people poop more often, but there’s still not enough evidence to recommend a specific probiotic to help you poop more.
Our research at ZOE has found 15 good gut bacteria linked with better health and 15 bad gut bacteria linked with worse health.
The ZOE at-home test can tell you how many of each of these types of bacteria live in your gut. ZOE can then recommend your individual gut booster foods that you should eat more of to improve your health, and your gut suppressor foods you should eat less of.
The ZOE program also lets you reflect on your unique biology, giving you the option to keep track of your poop frequency and consistency.
Frequency Of Fecal Incontinence
Fecal incontinence was reported in five RCTs . Based on the pooled results of two RCTs , there was no significant effect of L. casei rhamnosus Lcr35 compared with placebo on the frequency of fecal incontinence at the end of intervention no significant heterogeneity was found . No other trials reported significant differences between the probiotics and the placebo groups in the frequency of fecal incontinence. Of note, in the study by Sadeghzadeh et al., fecal incontinence was assessed only in patients who had these symptoms before the intervention. In this subgroup, no significant difference between the control and probiotic groups in the frequency of fecal incontinence was found at the end of the intervention .
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Prebiotics For Constipation: The Evidence
Unlike probiotics, research shows that prebiotics are consistently helpful for improving bowel regularity.
A meta-analysis looked at results of 27 studies about prebiotics ability to improve constipation symptoms. It also inspected synbiotics ability to improve constipation symptoms, which are combinations of probiotics and prebiotics.
They found that prebiotics alone increase weekly stool frequency and improve stool consistency .
Combining prebiotics AND probiotics together may be the best bet of all. When combined, prebiotics and probiotics are referred to as synbiotics.Synbiotics, however, seem to be even more effective than prebiotics alone.
Most notably, synbiotics were shown to decrease whole gut transit time by 13.5 hours on average meaning you could dramatically ramp up your stool passage frequency.
Synbiotics also were also shown to improve stool consistencyand decrease bloating and pain with stool passage.
When it comes to specific prebiotics that may be helpful, one prebiotic superstar stands out among the bunch Sunfiber.
Sunfiber is repeatedly shown in scientific studies to reduce constipation, increase regularity , reduce abdominal pain with stool passage, and soften stools . Even low doses can have these effects.
One study asserted that Sunfiber is a credible candidate to be a single comprehensive solutionfor overall maintenance of proper digestive health . Thats some pretty high praise!
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Does Taking A Probiotic Supplement Support Digestion
Probiotic is beneficial bacteria that provide a wide range of health benefits. The probiotic supplement helps to maintain a healthy microbial community for supporting digestive health. Probiotic increase the diversity of good bacteria. They can fight with all types of bad bacterias to provide recovery of imbalanced gut microbiomes. For a healthy gut system, probiotics respond effectively by reducing gut inflammation. Several studies found that probiotics significantly reduce bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, and all types of digestive issues.
Your gut has trillion of the live microbiome and makes an ecosystem that helps to keep your body healthy. Probiotic is one kind of live microorganism to solve gut-related issues. The microbiome plays an important role in the digestion process. Tough probiotic supplements contain good bacterias that promote the maintenance of the microbial population. Probiotic supplements help to break down fiber which is indigestible and helps to promote metabolism. Healthy microbiomes are integral parts of the digestion system. So maintaining good probiotic supplements can solve overall digestive issues. But probiotics arent the only remedy to improve digestion. There are other ways to follow to support digestion and stop bloating. Those are:
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Complications Of Chronic Liver Disease/hepatic Encephalopathy
Luminal microbiota play an important role in the pathogenesis of both spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy. Ammonia produced by gut bacteria is believed to play a key role in hepatic encephalopathy. Antibiotics are employed in clinical practice to reduce severity or frequency of both these chronic liver disease complications. Lactulose, a mainstay of therapy, is a prebiotic for lactobacilli which can limit bacterial ureases.
The role for probiotics in these disorders is an area of ongoing investigation. Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy with lactobacillus acidophilus was studied as early as 1965. More recently, Liu and colleagues offered a probiotic and prebiotic mixture to 97 patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy and observed a reduction in ammonia levels and improvement in encephalopathy. Another group found that a yogurt-based probiotic supplement significantly improved quantitative measurements of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in nonalcoholic cirrhotics. The latter group is now completing a more comprehensive trial using the probiotic LGG in a similar patient cohort.
Society guidelines and expert consensus panels do not currently support a recommendation of probiotic use for any chronic liver disease associated condition.
What Are The Benefits Of Probiotics For Children
Overall, probiotics may have health benefits for children including supporting a healthy digestive system.
Another potential benefit is to support the rebalance of gut bacteria following a course of antibiotics. When required to fight a bacterial infection, antibiotics are very important, but they can affect the balance of our natural gut health and can cause a reduction in the diversity of our gut microbiome.
In some cases, children also experience diarrhoea and research suggests that probiotics can help protect some people from getting diarrhoea.
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How Do Prebiotics Work
Prebiotics feed your beneficial bacteria, allowing them to reproduce and multiply. Increased good bacteria in the gut can push harmful bacteria out and improve your digestion overall.
Other than increased counts of good bacteria and decreased counts of bad bacteria, benefits of prebiotics may include:
- Strengthened intestinal lining
- Elimination of toxins from your digestive tract
Prebiotics can come in supplement form or in certain types of food both of which can grant you these benefits.
So, prebiotics help to balance gut bacteria, just like probiotics. And because constipation may be related to an imbalanced microbiome, it makes sense to guess that they might soothe constipation.
Lets check out the research before we jump to conclusions.
Optibac Probiotics 1699 For 30 Sachets Best For Mums And Kids
Suitable for: 0-12-year-olds, plus pregnant and breastfeeding mums
Type: Powder
These probiotics are suitable for kids from birth right up to the age of 12, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mums, meaning you wont have to pick up multiple products to suit the needs of your family.
The powder, which can easily be sprinkled on top of porridge or mixed into a drink, contains three billion natural live cultures per sachet, in three well-researched strains .
According to the brand, they have all been tested to survive both stomach acidity and bile salts meaning theyll actually reach where they need to and make a difference.
It also contains fructooligosaccharide a dairy fibre with various benefits. And, as an extra bonus, theres no added sugar, colourings or flavourings and its suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free kids.
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