A primer on probiotics from the Mayo Clinic:
PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS
Here are some options for commercial probiotic supplements. Please keep in mind that these treatments are not as yet extensively researched, so there isn’t a strong reason to recommend one over the other at this time, but I just like to provide some preliminary info:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus: available in many generic forms, has probably been around the longest amongst probiotic preparations available commercially and for these reasons can probably be purchased least expensively
- Florastor (Saccharomyces boulardii): probably the best supported by research at this point in time for restoring bowel health after an antibiotic regimen, and preventing C.diff diarrhea. However, it only contains a single strain of “friendly” microbe (it is actually a yeast form rather than bacterial)
- Culturelle (lactobacillus GG): also a single strain probiotic, this is gaining in popularity and research
- Phillips ColonHealth (lactobacillus and 2 strains of bifidobacteriuim): this is an example of a multi-strain probiotic.
- While research of multi-strain probiotics is less robust, it is my personal belief that the more types of “friendly” bacteria are introduced into an imbalanced gut, the more balance can be achieved, as opposed to trying to perform a new balancing act between only a few microbes. The more strains are present in a preparation, often the more pricey it can get, so that is to be taken into consideration.
DIETARY PROBIOTICS
Some dairy-based options:
- Active culture yogurt (Greek yogurt is best)
- Kefir (a fermented milk product different from yogurt)
To avoid milk proteins (which are very common allergens and some of the most pro-inflammatory consumable compounds in the Western diet), other options would include the following (but please note most of these products are very high in salt content):
- kombucha
- sauerkraut
- kimchi
- miso
- pickles
Thrive Adult Primary Care 