Probiotics

[rawlife]

The meat or the sourkrout? The meat definitely did not taste good. In fact, it came up going down the first time. Had to cut it up smaller and give it another go. Probiotics are your first defense against digestion problems. Give it a fair shot, not just one or two drinks here and there. Take something in daily and see how you feel in a month.

[Anon73o]

Originally Posted by Blashy

I say to everyone if I could only take ONE supplement, it would be a probiotic.

80+% of your immune system comes from that friendly bacteri in your gut that weighs about 2 pounds.

As well anything that happens in your body starts in the gut... again those bacterias are the ones working for you.

The biggest problem is buying a good product. The only brands that have scientific research behind them are very few. Luckily the activia yogurt by Danone is a well known brand that has science behing it, although the number of bacteria per serving is quite low at 1 billion.

The one I use has 50 Billion per serving and has scientific research and IS being used in hospitals in Canada ... Biok+

Tons of factors KILL your friends and we are bombarded by these factors.

Basically anyone who lives in modern society needs a probiotic supplement.

What brands do you recommend for probiotics? Is it superior to make your own? If so, how do I begin to get set up to make my own?

[rawlife]

Kombucha is a great drink that you can get from Whole Foods-or make it real easily. Otherwise, you can pretty easily make your own sourkraut-look it up on the net, real simple process, it seems. Or you can just start letting some food get old before you eat it every now and then.

[JoelR]

Originally Posted by Anon73o

What brands do you recommend for probiotics? Is it superior to make your own? If so, how do I begin to get set up to make my own?

I would think that home made would be superior because some of the bacteria?s and yeasts would have to die off in packaging & transport. Plus you have control on taste. You can achieve sweeter or more sour tasting things by playing with ferment time, etc.

The two best pages I've found for Kefir & Kombucha are

Dom's Kefir making site
http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/Mak...thod_for_kefir

Happy Herbalist for Kombucha
http://www.happyherbalist.com/continuous_brewing.htm

As far as getting started, I got my starter cultures off of E-Bay. It was a combo pack with both the Kombucha & kefir.

When & if you decide to get started keep in mind that it takes 3 - 4 batches for the kefir grains to adjust to the type of milk you are using. It's not a big deal because you're starting with a small amount (1 - 2 cups). It's just a test of your patients because you want it now. LOL Also, it does not taste as good as store bought (flavored) kinds. But you won't have all the added crap (that tastes so good)
Let me know if you get going & I'll share some of our favorite smoothie recipes with the kefir which we absolutely love!

Good Luck
Joel

[JoelR]

Originally Posted by rawlife

Kombucha is a great drink that you can get from Whole Foods-or make it real easily. Otherwise, you can pretty easily make your own sourkraut-look it up on the net, real simple process, it seems. Or you can just start letting some food get old before you eat it every now and then.

Rawlife,

Please don't take this wrong or personal. There is a difference between fermented food & rotten food. Fermented food is in a sense changed by process of specific bacteria?s and or yeasts. These specific bacteria?s & yeasts control unwanted bacteria?s or pathogens which would otherwise "rot or decompose" the food. It's more of a "pre-digested" food.
For example,,, If you just sit milk out on the counter, it spoils and is not good for human consumption. It does not turn into butter milk, kefir, or yogurt, which are good for human consumption. They are made by the cultures which are added and maintained under the proper conditions.

People can adapt to eating rotten food but I would not recommend people just jumping over and trying it. It's like playing Russian roulette and someone can get very sick from it.
You are living proof that you can adapt to it but I think it's fair to recommend with caution and to slowly build up and by all means support with probiotics.

[marius1]

btw, Kimchi is also a decent probiotic. A bit high in salt though.

[Pharos]

Just curious -- for those that consistently take probiotics, have you noticed that you get sick less often?

[rawlife]

Definitely.

[rawlife]

Originally Posted by JoelR

Rawlife,

Please don't take this wrong or personal. There is a difference between fermented food & rotten food. Fermented food is in a sense changed by process of specific bacteria?s and or yeasts. These specific bacteria?s & yeasts control unwanted bacteria?s or pathogens which would otherwise "rot or decompose" the food. It's more of a "pre-digested" food.
For example,,, If you just sit milk out on the counter, it spoils and is not good for human consumption. It does not turn into butter milk, kefir, or yogurt, which are good for human consumption. They are made by the cultures which are added and maintained under the proper conditions.

People can adapt to eating rotten food but I would not recommend people just jumping over and trying it. It's like playing Russian roulette and someone can get very sick from it.
You are living proof that you can adapt to it but I think it's fair to recommend with caution and to slowly build up and by all means support with probiotics.

You're right, much better advice than mine for the average person.

[LI GUY 1]

Please explain or point me to the reasoning behind eating old food?

I understand the probiotic thing but old food not so much.

[JoelR]

Rawlife,

Have you ever tried Matcha Tea with Kombucha? I just read about the tea and I am very interested in it. I already e-mailed Happy Herbalist to see what they think. If it works out, that could be some super juice. LOL

[ColdasIce18]

I just take probiotic pills..

I'm gonna start eating fermented sauerkraut though.

I do it because I have candida.. which blows chunks.

[Blashy]

Originally Posted by Anon73o

What brands do you recommend for probiotics? Is it superior to make your own? If so, how do I begin to get set up to make my own?

I recommend just brands that have science behind them and so far you have VERY few.

Biok+ , vsl3 , Activia yogurt and Yakult are the ones on that list.

The reason I stick with those is simply because I know I am getting what it states. If it says 450 billion (vsl3) you are getting that number.

They did a test of the most popular probiotic brands and ALL of them had 25% or LESS of what was stated on the labels.

[rawlife]

Originally Posted by ColdasIce18

I just take probiotic pills..

I'm gonna start eating fermented sauerkraut though.

I do it because I have candida.. which blows chunks.

Besides the priobiotics what are you doing to combat the candida? How long have you had it and did you get it after antibiotic use?

[rvdrvd]

I make kefir.

Everything you need to know ~~~> http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html

[dvsness]

Y'all are bold. I take BioBeads.

[ColdasIce18]

Originally Posted by rawlife

Besides the priobiotics what are you doing to combat the candida? How long have you had it and did you get it after antibiotic use?

Yeah I got it due to antibiotics (6 months) and poor sugary diet.

I'm taking natural anti fungals (Oregano oil, grapeseed extract, Olive leaf, garlic) and pillform probiotics. I just ordered Kefir grains to replace the pillform probiotics and I'm also eating sauerkraut right now.. So tasty!

I'm not eating any carbs at all, but I'm going to slowly move over to eating ezekiel bread which I make by my self because I can't stand being no carb any more. Also I'm going to try incorporate some low fructose fruits see if that works.

I'm doing a colon cleanse soon aswell alongside with a 7 day fast. I'm hopeful that with in 3-4 months it'll be totally gone.

[rawlife]

I hope that works out for you, keep me updated, I have it too from antibiotics(the taking of which was a huge mistake). Mine is very mild because of my diet but this really is an eye opener.

[JIA]

It's been a month and I've been on a daily BioK+ regimen and have to say that my stomach aches are less frequent and I'm generally happier and more energetic. Of course, this may be due to the placebo effect and the warmer/sunnier weather but probiotics take all the credit . Best supplement money I've ever spent! A rather [un]pleasant consequence is that my farts are deadlier than ever heh.

I'd like to be able to drink kombucha daily but the acidity makes me worried about acid reflux disease/heartburn. Any additional advice is much appreciated.

[rawlife]

Usually acidic things have an alkalinizing effect on the inside...try it an see what happens. Bacteria is what produces gas, but I think you'll even out after a while and be better off(and better smelling) because of it. I have actually never smelled better in my whole life than how I do now. I am on zero sugar and probiotics, doing great.

[JIA]

Originally Posted by rawlife

Usually acidic things have an alkalinizing effect on the inside...try it an see what happens. Bacteria is what produces gas, but I think you'll even out after a while and be better off(and better smelling) because of it. I have actually never smelled better in my whole life than how I do now. I am on zero sugar and probiotics, doing great.

Good to hear buddy, thanks for all the advice. I'm drinking organic raw kombucha right now, and it's... an acquired taste heh.

[rawlife]

Really? I seriously love it and can't get enough! Did you make it yourself or buy from the store? GTs is the only mainstream brand I have had and it is like the nectar of the god's to me.

[JoelR]

Originally Posted by JIA

I'd like to be able to drink kombucha daily but the acidity makes me worried about acid reflux disease/heartburn. Any additional advice is much appreciated.

They claim that even though Kombucha is acidic, it's a "alkaline" causing food. I don't know how that works, but that's what's said. What gets me about that claim though is, they suggest to slowly build it up in your system, starting with 2 oz a day and working up, to avoid acidosis. That kind of contradicts that alkaline causing theory, doesn?t it? I don?t know? Just step up the amount to be safe & play the reflux by ear.

[Blashy]

That claim is probably true, all good probiotic help make your body alkalinic.

The same apple cider vinegar. It is acidic but it is alkaline forming once digested.

[rawlife]

Originally Posted by JoelR

They claim that even though Kombucha is acidic, it's a "alkaline" causing food. I don't know how that works, but that's what's said. What gets me about that claim though is, they suggest to slowly build it up in your system, starting with 2 oz a day and working up, to avoid acidosis. That kind of contradicts that alkaline causing theory, doesn?t it? I don?t know? Just step up the amount to be safe & play the reflux by ear.

I think they might be referring to the initial reaction of a lot where there was none before, which could be acidifying.

[girl81]

Originally Posted by rawlife

I am on zero sugar and probiotics, doing great.

I thought kombucha had sugar in it. ???

[JoelR]

Originally Posted by girl81

I thought kombucha had sugar in it. ???

Not after the bacteria's & yeast's consume it. It does depend on your ferment time though. The longer it sits, the less sugar is left.

[girl81]

Regarding fermenting veggies; would sour krout be the same as taking a probiotic?