Best Probiotics For Constipation
When choosing a probiotic for constipation its important that it contains clinically researched strains that help alleviate the condition.
When I say help, I mean they should at least
- Increase the frequency of bowel movements
- Shorten the transit times
Without doubt the two most effective probiotic species are Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.
However, its the strain that makes the difference and not all strains are created equal.
Certain strains are better at dealing with the symptoms of chronic constipation than others..
And the best probiotic supplements for constipation should contain at least one of these strains.
Below is a list of clinically researched bacterial strains that are shown to have a beneficial effect on constipation.
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Can Probiotics Be A Preventative For Travelers Diarrhea
- Question
- I will soon be travelling to several countries where finding safe drinking water will be a challenge. In the event I eat or drink something that would cause travelers diarrhea would it be wise to preventatively start taking a probiotic? Is it alright to take loperamide at the same time as taking a probiotic?
- Answer
- There is some evidence that taking a probiotic can help prevent travellers diarrhea although probiotics are notoriously variable in terms of their activity, with some being more effective than others with respect to this indication. I see no reason why you shouldnt take loperamide with a probiotic should the need arise.
I should point out that diarrhea in gastroenteritis does serve a purpose of clearing out the germs that are causing the problem and, therefore, taking loperamide can sometimes delay recovery.
I usually advise patients to take one of the glucose and electrolyte powders when they get travelers diarrhea and just use the loperamide for emergencies, travelling and to get home.
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The Power Of Probiotics
It may seem strange: Youre taking antibiotics, so wouldnt probiotics undo the good your treatment is doing?
However, probiotics add helpful bacteria to your digestive system not the bacteria that cause infections. They dont have any effect on the antibiotic treatment. They only treat the side effects.
The thing that has really been shown to help the most with preventing diarrhea is taking probiotics when taking antibiotics, Dr. Rabovsky says. He notes that reviews of studies suggest probiotics are effective both for regular antibiotic-associated diarrhea and for diarrhea related to C. diff. They also seem to help with side effects such as cramping and gas.
Probiotics come in several varieties. The most commonly studied for antibiotic-associated diarrhea are Lactobacillus rhamnosus-based and Saccharomyces boulardii-based probiotics. Probiotics come in capsules, tablets, powders and even liquid form.
With so many options, be sure to ask your doctor for advice before taking any probiotics, as you should for any type of supplement. Probiotics could possibly be harmful for people with immune deficiencies or those who are severely debilitated.
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Taking Probiotics At Night Could Make Them Way More Effective
Probiotics are one of the biggest wellness trends of the moment. Not only can you find supplement versions, but everything from bottled water to tortilla chips are being laced with the friendly microbes.
In case you need a refresher, probiotics are good bacteria thought to boost the health of your microbiome, or the balance of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that lives in your intestines. You can and should get them from foods , but you may also want to throw back some Bac in pill form.
While studies havent proven that probiotic supplements are beneficial for already healthy peeps, they have been shown to help treat a handful of specific conditions, like digestive disorders such as diarrhoea, constipation, and acid reflux.
Theres also evidence that probiotics can help reduce inflammation for people who have ulcerative colitis, can be helpful for people who have a condition called travellers diarrhoea , and can help if you have bad diarrhoea after having taken antibiotics.
You should talk to your doctor to find out which probiotic strain is best for you to take for whichever condition or issue youre dealing with, since not every strain works for every aliment. Once you have a doc-recommended supplement, its also important to consider the timing of when you ingest it.
How often should I take probiotics?
How Many Billion Probiotics Should I Take
Probiotics are measured by Colony Forming Units , which essentially indicate the number of viable cells. A probiotic supplement should have around 10 billion CFUs as this is the dose required to reduce the duration of diarrhea in children.
Not only is dose important but delivery as well. Many probiotic products do not protect the probiotics inside from stomach acid which kills many of the probiotics inside before they make it to the gut.
Look for probiotics with an enteric coating or some kind of delayed-release mechanisms to maximize the effective probiotic dose you are getting.
In addition to the dose, you need to consider the diversity of your probiotics. Many probiotics have one, two or just a couple strains or types of probiotics.
Studies have shown that more diverse formulations of probiotics with multiple strains of probiotics is more helpful than single strain probiotics.
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Can Probiotics Cause Diarrhea
While probiotics are generally well tolerated, including probiotic-rich foods or adding probiotic supplements might infrequently cause side effects. Although diarrhea is not a typical side effect, probiotics can sometimes cause related symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, bloating or gas. In fact, probiotics are more likely to reduce the duration of diarrhea or prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea. While there are health benefits to having a healthy balance of gut bacteria, always talk to your doctor before using probiotics, to be sure the remedy is appropriate for you.
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Should I Take My Probiotics With Other Medications
Even if you toss back vitamins or other medication in the morning , you should still take your probiotics at nighttime. With more time in your gut, the good bacteria can get to work healing your digestive issues. And that’s exactly what you want if you’re investing in a supplement.
The bottom line: The best time to take a probiotic is generally at nighttime before bed. But speak with your doctor before taking any sort of supplement to make sure it makes sense for you and your body/condition.
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What To Look For
In the United States, probiotics are classified as dietary supplements. Under this classification, the products are not strictly regulated and are allowed to be sold without the burden of clinical research. With that being said, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration forbids manufacturers making any claims that the products can cure, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition.
To ensure quality and safety, only buy supplements that have tested and certified by an independent certifying body like the U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab, or NSF International.
When used as a food ingredient, probiotics fall under the FDA umbrella category “GRAS,” meaning they are “generally regarded as safe.”
Why Take Probiotics When You Have Diarrhea
December 14, 2020 0Digestive & liver health
Diarrhea is defined as passing loose or watery stools 3 or more times a day. Many people get diarrhea a few times a year. Generally, most incidences will be resolved after a day or two. It is usually enough just to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
However, diarrhea in babies, young children and elderly can quickly become dangerous as they are at risk of dehydration and this will lead to life threatening conditions.
Common causes of diarrhea include:
- Food poisoning from food contaminated by a virus or bacteria
- Travelers diarrhea
- Inflammation of the gut lining
- Some medications that disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, including antibiotics
Probiotics, also known as the good bacteria, are the health enhancing bacteria which help reestablish the gastrointestinal beneficial micro flora and alleviate heath disorders.
Probiotics have shown to play a role in preventing and treating diarrhea. Studies have shown that probiotics help to shorten the duration of diarrhea and reduce stool frequency, in other words it made the diarrhea go away faster.
Probiotics help to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance of normal flora in our gut, making us feel better.
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Should I Try Probiotics
If you are interested in adding probiotics to your diet, its worth a conversation with your healthcare provider. Many providers may suggest giving them a try to see if they help with your general health. It is important to remember that not all probiotics behave the same way and have the same effects. Each has their own individual benefits. They generally dont cause harm. One easy way to start can be by simply introducing probiotic-rich foods into your diet, like yogurt.
Before you start any supplements, make sure you talk to your healthcare provider. Your provider may be able to point you in the right direction, helping you figure out the best probiotic to take, how much to take and when to take it. A conversation is always worth the time when it concerns your health.
Why You Should Eat Probiotic Food On An Empty Stomach
For the beneficial bacteria in probiotic foods to make it to your large intestinethe gut of your gut microbiomeit must first pass through your harsh stomach acids. Your stomach is designed to break down food, drink, and any other particles. Unfortunately, that includes probiotics.
When you eat, the production of gastric acid in your stomach is increased to aid the digestion process. But while this acid is crucial for digestion, it can be greatly detrimental to probiotic foods. In fact, when eaten at the wrong time, a whopping 60% of the beneficial bacteria could be killed by gastric acids!
You want to give the beneficial bacteria in your food the chance to make it through that hostile acidic environment relatively unscathed. That means consuming probiotic-friendly food when your stomach isnt in digestion mode, to minimize the amount of gastric acid that might attack the probiotics.
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Why You Should Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Antibiotics play a critical role in killing bad bacteria. But as they destroy infections, they can also cause collateral damage to the good bacteria in your gut, which could result in diarrhea for a couple of daysor even weeksafter you stop taking the medicine.
So how can you get the benefits of antibiotics without the nasty stomach side effects? The answer might be found in probioticspills or even powders with live microorganisms that offer health benefits.
Your intestines contain around 1,000 different species of bacteria, with 100 trillion bacteria in total, says Dr. Lawrence Hoberman, president and chief executive of Medical Care Innovations Inc. If 80% of that bacteria is the good, healthy kind, the harmful bacteria stay at bay. But antibiotics change the balance in the microbiome, which may result in an increase in the harmful bacteria, he explained.
The immune system recognizes the bad guys and will try to destroy them. But in the process, it breaks down the intestinal lining and causes inflammation, and thats how we get antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Dr. Hoberman explains.
One study found that antibiotic-associated diarrhea affects between 5% and 39% of patients, depending on which antibiotic they take. But research shows that probiotics can curb digestion problems. A meta-analysis of 34 other studies found that probiotics reduce instances of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 52%.
The Best Probiotic For Diarrhea
Can probiotics cause diarrhea? Yes. However, we cant overemphasize that probiotics cause diarrhea only in a very small minority of users. Even in those rare instances, the symptoms are almost always temporary. Probiotics, for the most part, are a diarrhea reducer.
With this in mind, you should definitely take probiotics for diarrhea if you regularly experience loose stool. We suggest looking at the type of strains in a probiotic supplement. Some strains are more beneficial for treating digestive disorders than others.
One useful strain is lactobacillus and its sub-strains. One study showed that L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus were effective in treating travelers diarrhea. It was also useful in treating acute diarrhea in children. Both strains are available in cultured dairy products. You can also find them in Floracil50.
Another study published in the BMJ Journal found that the strains L. casei and L. bulgaricus were effective in treating diarrhea associated with antibiotic use.
As you can see, there is no single best probiotic for diarrhea. This is why we recommend a multi-strain product over those with a single strain. Research also suggests that multiple strains may have a synergistic effect and be more potent than a single strain working solo.
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There Are Natural Ways To Prevent And Treat This Painful Disease That Affects Many People Over The Age Of 50
Aggressive treatments for diverticultis, including surgery and antibiotics, may be overused, according to a recent study published in JAMA.
No one who has ever suffered from diverticulitis is lucky, but some people are able to get through the intense attack of lower abdominal pain relatively unscathed. The unlucky diverticulitis patients have a different story, one that can include complications, hospitalization, surgery, or chronic disease that will have an ongoing effect. Fortunately, natural medicine can help prevent and treat this painful disease.
Associated with the modern Western diet and lifestyle, diverticular disease is the most common disease of the colon in the Western world.1 While it is most prevalent in people over the age of 50 in the United States and Europe, it is beginning to affect more people worldwide, at younger ages.2
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How To Manage Diverticulitis With Diet
While newly-diagnosed people often feel overwhelmed by the limitations of a diverticulitis diet, the good news is that you dont need to be overly restrictive with what you eat. There are a few golden rules when it comes to choosing safe foods for diverticulitis that can make it easy to keep your stomach happy.
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Next Steps To Take If You’re Considering Probiotic Treatments
If you’re looking for where probiotic research stands on specific conditions, like acne or UTIs nothing conclusive on either of those topics as well as the limits of certain studies the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website provides an informative breakdown.
The bottom line is that you should discuss your best course of action with a doctor or registered dietitian especially “if you are considering starting a probiotic to treat a specific illness, have a chronic disease or if you are immunosuppressed,” Gilmore says.
Diarrhea Caused By C Difficile
An infection with C. difficile bacteria causes severe and sometimes life-threatening diarrhea and inflammation in the colon, called colitis. Probiotics may keep you from getting this germ. And there’s some evidence they might stop the problem from coming back. That’s important, since repeat infections become hard to control.
Scientists have done many studies of Saccharomyces boulardii against this type of bacteria. It appears to help, especially when combined with lactobacillus strains.
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What You Can Do
Don’t start taking probiotics without talking to your doctor or pharmacist about whether probiotics might help you. People who have immune deficiency or are being treated for cancer should not use probiotics without a doctor’s okay.
The most common species of bacteria used in probiotics are species of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. The bacteria are usually freeze-dried when you take the supplement, they warm up in your digestive system and become fully active. You can find probiotic supplements in most drugstores and supermarkets. They come as capsules or tablets to swallow and as loose powder to sprinkle on food. You’ll want a product that explicitly states a “sell-by” date. Dosages vary by product, so no general dosing recommendation can be made. However, common dosages for adults range from five billion to 10 billion colony-forming units per day. Take just one dose of probiotics per day.
Some people may experience loose stools in the first few days of taking probiotics, but this goes away. Taking probiotics at the end of a meal may help to reduce the symptoms.
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Where Can I Find Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts found naturally in your body. Theyre also found in some yoghurts and other foods, and you can take them as food supplements too.
You can find probiotics in certain yoghurts and soy milk just make sure it says live and active cultures on the label. Other foods rich in probiotics include kombucha tea, miso soup, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, olives, pickles, tempeh and dark chocolate.
You can also take probiotics as food supplements, which are easy to find in most chemists and health food shops.
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Probiotics Dosage For Children & Adults
Children who are new-borns and infants need special attention in the determination of their dosage.
The use of a pediatrician is key in determining dosage. There are forms of probiotics that can aid in diaper rash, but at the same time, there are those forms that before taking, should the child be on antibiotics, it would not be advisable. As such, there is need to seek the doctors advice on both the dosage and strain to avail to a child.
Adults too have varying needs. If you intend to avail to an adult, , your health status is vital in this determination.
Packet inserts would normally indicate the strain as well as the dosage requirements. Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Centre indicate that, as a general guide, take 1 2 billion colony forming units per day.
