Probiotic Yoghurt

Digestive health
1

Hello, 

I'm a 3rd year child branch student nurse, aged 20. I've got IBS (Self diagnosed... Have been to a doctor, but not my GP, who wasn't overly helpful), so was reading NICE Guidance yesterday, and it suggested trying a Probiotic yoghurt. I tried for a week before and I think I was put off by the taste.

The guidance says to try for four weeks, so I'm going to give it another go. Can anyone recommend one that doesn't taste too bad, and has worked for them? Appreciate that what works for one, might not for me though, and that ultimately I might just have to stomach the taste to reduce my symptoms but any advice would be helpful.

Thanks 

Joel 

2

Which type of probiotic are you looking for? Most yogurts only "truly contain" one type of probiotic, and you need to know which one you are after in order to find the right yogurt for you. 

For Bifidobacterium Animalis Lactis BB-12 my absolute favorite is La Yogurt, smooth taste, doesn't taste healthy, and it has enough of a sweetness to it that it satisfies my sweet tooth. The probiotic in this type of yogurt is best for inflammation and boosting the influenza vaccine. 

For Bifidobacterium Lactis DN-173 010 a.k.a. Bifidus regularis I like Activia. It's my least favorite probiotic yogurt because it "tastes healthy" but it does have a smooth, rich, creamy flavor. The probiotic in this type of yogurt is best for IBS sufferers, bloating, gas, intestinal health, and those who suffer from colitis. 

For Lactobacillus Casei Shirota I really like Yakult. It's one of my favorite probiotic yogurts in terms of taste and tastes more like Greek yogurt then it does regular yogurt. This type of yogurt is best for constipation and bladder infections.

I am very turned off, overall, by the flavor of probiotic yogurts, but I am not a yogurt fan in general. These are the only three I can eat without feeling sick to my stomach from the taste. Good luck to you!

3

Hello, 

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. Sounds like the Bifidus regularis in Activia should be my first choice, as bloating is my main issue. 

Managing my symptoms is obviously my top priority, however if I am able to find something that tastes reasonable too, then that will be great. 

Thank you again. Take care and have a great day smile 

Joel

4

If you are looking for relief from bloating, read the labels carefully on yogurt, as some yogurts can actually make you bloated. I always buy plain yogurts and then mix in strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or whatever flavor I want, because when you start making flavored yogurts you can get a high sugar content, and that's not what you want when you are looking for probiotics. 

Activia is probably the best for bloating, because it doesn't leave you bloated at all like some of the other brands do. If you are looking for bloating relief, try to avoid as many of the following ingredients in yogurt as possible: Guar Gum; Lactose; Sweetener; and Fruit add in's. All of these have been known to increase bloating over time. Some people find that probiotics in yogurt are "too potent" and they actually experience bloating and gas because of the yogurt, so keep that in mind and watch for changes in your symptoms as well. 

 

5

I eat one small Tesco's own strawberry/raspberry yoghurt a day, normally with lunch. Low fat ones, but high sugar content. Do you think it would be best to cut those out of my diet? 

6

I'm not familiar with Tesco brand yogurts in terms of ingredients. You would have to check the label to see what they contain. In particular, look at the type of sweetener it contains. 

To decrease bloating, you should avoid the following sweeteners: 

Artificial Sweeteners

Erythritol

Fructose

Malitol

Mannitol

Sorbitol

Sugar alcohols

Xylitol

In addition to causing bloating, they can also make bloating, IBS with diarrhea, IBS with constipation, and general diarrhea worse

Since  we are on the subject of yogurt, some yogurt's (not sure if it applies to Tesco or not) use spices in their yogurts. The following spices can increase bloating: 

Black Pepper

Chili Powder

Cloves

Hot Sauce

Ketchup

Mustard

Nutmeg

Onion

Tomato Sauce

Vinegar

In addition to causing bloating, these spices can make acid production worse and cause problems for those with GERD, Esophagitis, hernia's, and other related disorders. 

I am going to keep this list going, even though I know the next category, vegetables, is not found in yogurts. Usually if you have bloating on a regular basis, a full diet change is necessary. Vegetables that cause bloating are: 

All vegetables in the Cabbage Family

All vegetables in the Cruciferous Family

Arugula

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Collard Greens

Kale

Kohlrabi

Rutabaga

Turnips

Also, some people with bloating, don't take kinds of fiber into consideration. Insoluble fiber is the best if you suffer from bloating, because it doesn't go through the digestive process and just goes through the entire digestive system without changing or breaking down. Soluble fiber is the opposite, it's digestion begins in the large intestine and it starts to bulk up which can cause not only bloating, but also cramping and really bad gas.

Soluble fibers to avoid if you experience bloating are:

Beta-Glucans

Guar Gum

Pectins

Psyllium

Other things to avoid: 

Carbonated beverages - fill you up with air which causes cramping, gas, and bloating

Chewing gum - contains sugar alcohols, especially the sugar free kind, that can cause gas and bloating

Lactose - a type of milk sugar that will cause bloating, cramping, and gas

Sugary beverages - Kool Aid, most juice boxes, etc. They actually cause your insulin to surge, which then causes the increase of fat production in your abdomen and you wind up bloated

Trans Fats - increases bloating and gas. May be labeles as Partially Hydrogenated Oil or Trans Fat. Generally found in baked goods, commercially packaged snacks, and instant coffee

White Flour - contains refined carbohydrates which causes your insulin and blood sugar to spike and increases fat in the abdomen, which in turn causes gas and bloating. 

I know it seems like everything is "off limits" but it's not. You can also look for foods and beverages that decrease bloating. Here is a list of those foods, beverages, and ingredients that are good to help control bloating: 

Almonds

Apples

Artichokes

Asparagus

Avocados

Bananas

Beans

Berries (especially raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries)

Brown Rice

Cantaloupe

Celery

Cucumbers

Egg Plant

Eggs

Greek Yogurt

Kale

Kimchi

Lentils

Lettuce

Mackerel

Oatmeal

Olive Oil

Plain Yogurt

Rosemary

Salmon

Shrimp

Spinach

Tomatoes

Turmeric

Water with lemon in it (room temperature)

Watermelon

Whole Grain breads

I would be happy to provide you with the reasons these foods and beverages are great to prevent bloating, but I didn't want to give you information overload (maybe I already have!)

Other things to avoid: 

Drinking straws - will cause excessive air, gas, and bloating 

7

Good info you found  nice research on your part ,I will be sure to pass this on ,Jay on menopause site is another who does the research to meno ,mind of info from her to,as yourself .thanks all goes to helping each other. Do what drs can't ,I have family with Crohns and colitis  this may help them to .

  Best wishes 

8

I have hundreds of pages of documentation over the years that I have collected. From clinics, from books, etc. Research is much easier now with the Internet, but so many don't know where to look. I find the stuff that I have from books over the years is still often more accurate then what's online. I'm in the process of typing out hundreds of pages of notes, separating them by category, etc. I have friends who are physicians who have helped a great deal over the years as well. Doctors give you the very basics, and they don't give you much else. A lot of times diet, surroundings, even something as small as soap can be the route of the problem. 

9

Hi Joel

Someone on this forum suggested Bimuno some six months ago I tried it. Took about a month to start working but it did work for me. Haven't had any IBS symptoms for months. It's a powder you sprinkle into your tea or coffee and its tasteless.

hope this helps, just Google Bimuno

10

Well done you, good info for one and all.

I am lactose, wheat, dairy and glueton free have extreme diverticulitus, barretts osphecus, IBS, bone deficiency, blephitus, B12 deficiency just been diagnosed. I find if hard food wise as by time eliminate what can have with one issue then one of the other issues take out another food item. Not easy but one does what one has to, to survive. So was good to see your post as gives reminder. I Do the fodmap.diet which has helped me. greatly.

11

Like myself. I to have a good box of what I call goodies  all info to ailments  good and bad ,my husband says I should have a book and list them .I think today everything out there can be a problem ,but it's putting 2and 2 together ,sometimes it can be staring you in the face ,but you still miss it ,until it's brought up  then you connect the dots .Think that's why many drs now ask patients what they think is wrong. As they know many use the Internet looking for the answers ,I've never used a symptom checker ,think that's not good to do. Need to go see ones own Dr ,but if someone's mentioned a prob related to myself ,I will go look up what that site says in relation to it ,amazing what's said by individuals on said matter in question .Just look on it all as self help ,without taking up a drs appointment .Keep doing what your doing hey .All info. Is good info ,on many ailments .plus what's worked and what's not  for everyone on these various sites .

12

Exactly! For instance last three days I've been sicker than a dog. Well they switched brands of my medication to Teva, and it turns out they use titanium dioxide, one of my known allergies, as a filler. SIGH I thought that was why pharmacies have allergy lists, but it appears not to be. 

13

That's unusual for chemist,why I say that is I suffer from Rhinitis ,so fair bit don't agree with me.Im also on a BP med ,it was a chemist who told me not to have any Sudafed ,they increase BP ,I wasent told that by any Dr ,who knew I was on BP med ,and had allergies .So what if Id just gone and got them from a supermarket shelf and took them.Scary thought .So now I only go through my pharmacist ,he checks anything out for me .Id say keep to one chemist shop ,who keeps your prescription details on computer .You were really unlucky there ,hope all settles back for you .

14

Yeah I am having a HUGE problem with the Titanium Dioxide allergy and my pharmacy. I just posted a topic about it to see if anyone has any tips or ways I can research it myself. 

15

My advice, forget them all and make your own. I do and I won't buy yoghurt again. I use the Easiyo yoghurt maker but no longer buy the sachets. So simple to make your own. All the best, Steve

16

I use the Euro Cuisine and I love it, because most store brands contain other things I'm allergic to. The problem with making your own is getting the right consistency. There is a bit of a science to it, but once you get it down, it works pretty well.

17

No science if you follow the instructions. Making Yorkshire pudding is more difficult 😊

18

Maybe your machine is easier than the Euro Cuisine? I know mine can either turn into sticky glue or runny goo if you aren't exactly perfect. 

19

Hi Joel, I ate ativia, It's really good and very good for digestive problems, and it even helped me after I was on it for 4 weeks, but for me, I had to stop taking it because it caused too much mucus in my head and I had a very bad sinsus infection because of the buildup of the mucus.  Now, my husband is eating it twice a day, because it's helping him stay regular. I take Probiotics everyday again, and they work wonders, look them up on line and see how they help. Just make sure you ask your doctor before taking any herb or meds, and also get them from a Professional Health Food Store or Herblist.  Praying for your recovery, and that you get healed.

20

Hi Linda, 

Thanks for your reply. I looked on the Bimuno website. Which of their products do you use? 

And also, I don't drink tea, and only occasionally have coffee. Does this powder work in cold drinks the same? smile