Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a truly effective probiotic formula? I've had a secondary infection following covid and had to take some antibiotics. I didn't even finish them as I reacted to them quite badly, but they were still pretty strong stuff and now even a month later am having grumbling stomach, cramps etc. I know I have low levels of good gut bacteria in general.
I've tried drinking Kefir from a reputable company online to try and boost my levels but (and this is strange) it seems to go straight 'through' my system. I end up smelling like the kefir especially in my er lady bits! Why this happens to me I have no clue. It's not pleasant. That said the generic shop bought stuff doesn't have that effect but doesn't seem particularly effective or 'live' either.
Any recommendations appreciated!
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RedSonja
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My finger slipt . I was about to say home made kefir . . Maybe have very small amount at first and build up to a glass slowly. Cytoplan good to . Good to ask the company’s advice explaining why probiotics needed . There are so many different strains
Thanks! Well I tried making my own water Kefir a couple years back in a big glass jar on my kitchen counter but the grains multiplied really quickly and it started to taste a bit vinegary. Then I left them for a long time and I think they died and I didn't try again😬 I'm terrible and a Kefir grain murderer.😞
I didn't give it my full attention and commitment. Can you give me some tips to be more successful next time? I would like to try again and have some on the go permenantly. Kombucha is nice but I can't afford to buy it regularly.
I just take Optibac Every Day and they seem to be ok. Have you tried eating kimchi or pickled vegetables or sauerkraut? They are all very good for your gut bacteria.
Like Buddy I prefer water kefir - I did make my own water kefir for a while - unfortunately we couldn’t drink it as fast as I was producing it, I burped it regularly while it was in the fridge but it reminded me of the Magician’s Apprentice and I was always half expecting the bottles to explode in the fridge, eventually I stopped making it. You don’t seem to be able to buy water kefir anywhere although you can buy kombucha - it’s expensive though. Making your own water kefir is really cheap.
I'm making something called Jun . It's like kombucha but different culture/ scoby . And made with green tea and honey . I'm much more successful with it than kombucha .
Yes I've also had problems maintaining water kefir in the past and starved the grains to death😑. I want to try again. I agree Kombucha is expensive. I absolutely love kimchi but a bottle is quite pricey and doesn't go far. Can eat sauerkraut but haven't found one I really like.
Guess I should start fermenting my own foods, but when I'm ill and really tired, all my best plans go to nowt. Need to get better organised.
I hate taking antibiotics for the reasons you've mentioned, they wipe out your gut. I had to have a dose over xmas for an ear infection that just wouldn't go. Since, I've been trying to restore the balance with daily kombucha and kefir every few days... and I tried my best to eat sauerkraut but it's just nasty stuff!! 😬 too much kefir or those little probiotic bottles can cause SIBO so small and steady doses are better in my experience. One round of ABs can take the gut a few months to fully recover.
Not a probiotic but great for gut health is bone broth; if you're not veggie and can drink it.
Also, I try to eat lots of prebiotic foods, garlic, onion, leeks and others. Good bacteria feed on these. Good luck 🍀
Don’t you think that if your lady parts smell like kefir, you may have mycosis due to antibiotics? It happened to me after nearly each antibiotic treatment and I had to take some ovules down there….
I take probiotics in tablet form, but it does say on the pack to take it with/just after breakfast to help it survive the stomach acid. I also find flaxseed good to give the probiotics something to work on, like other foods already recommended. You can have it with cereal, or as an ingredient in any stock-based meals like casserole, curry etc. Many supermarkets sell it 🙂
Ever thought you might have a sensitive immune response like histamine intolerance? I definitely can’t tolerate kefir as it’s fermented and increases histamine responses over time. Kefir might help some but it’s definitely not a solution for all.I’ve had covid and I’ve had two lots of antibiotics, I was already taking the supplements I use and I recommend them too you.
Even if you don’t have the above conditions the strains I recommend are back to basics and will offer your gut a easier time in tolerating them. I’d stay on them though and it usually takes a month to feel a difference.
First up is Viridian lactobacillus rhamnosus gg.
Second is Love life supplements, lactospore plus, Advanced digestive support.
I’ve done hours of research, I’d start with the Viridian first and then bring in the lactospore a week after if your tolerating the first.
It's very very helpful, thank you! I hadn't considered histamine even though years ago I was looking into it because I can become itchy and bit rashy after eating. I did paleo for a while and still had that problem and was looking into histamine reactions. I need to consider it again.
The best probiotics, in my opinion, are soil-based. They are capsules and very dark in color. I produced water kefir for restaurants in the past and I believe that there is too much residual sugar in the kefir to truly help balance the gut. Bad bacteria thrive on sugars. You don't need to add sugar to make milk kefir because the milk already contains the sugar needed to feed the kefir grains. Also important is diet. Eat less fruit and more vegetables, and to combat loose bowel eat millet with zucchini. Temporarily lay off the rice, it turns to sugar. No oranges. They create loose bowel. Hope some of this helps.
Kefir made me ill I’ve tried many brands all had made me feel really off, I believe you about the smell, not that I had it myself but when I took a probiotic at night I would have horrible dreams all night, when I stopped them the bad dreams stopped as well. I now take Holland and Barrett Travel probiotic with ginger, I empty the capsule into my yogurt tastes nice with the ginger in. Did you see a Drs program on tv a few years ago saying probiotics are made from donations of human poo? It put me off buying it for a while but what can you do. I’m not up to making my own anything at the moment or I would try to make some. Good luck, and I wish you well I hope you find some that suite you x
Thank you time traveller! I think some of us have very sensitive systems. Glad you've managed to find something that works for you. Probiotic with ginger sounds like something I could take on the go.
Did you tell your doctor as a different anti-biotic could have been prescribed? Not finishing the course can mean initial infection not properly killed off. This is how anti biotic resistance comes about and why we’re getting stronger anti biotics. I always take absolute loads of plain yoghurt with anti biotics but kumbocha, sauerkraut, kimchi etc can help. Hope you’re better soon.
Yes I did, he told me to not take anymore and switch to Clarithromycin 500mg, but I couldn't take more than two tablets of that either.
I have asthma and when I was young it was really severe and I was on antibiotics all the time because of infections.
Now many years later, I feel that my body is becoming intolerant to antibiotics. With the first batch, the skin on my face around my nose and mouth started mildly peeling, I was itchy all over and had stomach cramps and I ignored it, but when I continued my tongue and my eyelids started swelling. It was slight but I was afraid if I kept on it would get worse.
I had a similar reaction taking metronidazole a few years ago.
Too many antibiotics in life. My gut and immunity is very impaired now.
Will start eating yogurt again more frequently, though I must be the only person in the world who doesn't love yogurt! Thanks for the suggestion x
Poor you .. my daughter (50) has mild asthma but has given up dairy apart from tiny bit of milk in tea and it makes a difference to her. If you really don’t like yoghurt maybe you’re body is telling you something? Or is it just the ‘sourness’. I remember hating yoghurt when young (early doors yoghurt really was sour). but love it now and know which brands I prefer.
Sheep’s milk yoghurt is lovely, milder and often better tolerated but a bit more expensive. My latest is to mix sauerkraut and yoghurt with home made houmous (or taramasalata or other dip) and maybe lemon . Put in whatever you like to make it palatable for you. Maybe my taste buds are so confused by the time they’ve worked it out I’ve finished a small bowlful! I suppose you could think of these things as medicine so not necessarily the greatest taste? My daughter had a phase of making lovely kefir, kombucha etc but kitchen looked like a chemistry lab and took up so much space but making your own is, if nothing else a great distraction. Hope you find something to suit you!
Sorry to hear about your problem. I’ve had antibiotics from my GP this pass 28 months, for fungal and urinary infections. I purchased from macrobiotic.co.uk 08002977740, they recommended a certain type that helps with these problem. I purchased 3 months supply, now taken for 1 month, and yes the smell has gone. Helen
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