Are too many probiotics bad?

[hippie4lyfe]

I have been on a probiotic fest lately, I think its so great to replenish the internal flora with good bacteria but is too much bad? What is the limit? I don't know if one can get a yeast infection from too much.

Anyone know? This question is directed to anyone, especially Benson who seems to be the in house nutritionist (even though we agree to disagree on a lot of nutrition topics) hehe.

 

[D Bergy]

I have never come across anyone who has had a negative effect from too much probiotics. I would think that there is only room for x amount of bacteria and after that they just die off.

Maybe someone else has more info on this.

Dan

 

[mikeyarmo]

I would think that the thing that is most negatively affected by too many probiotics would be your wallet .

Seriously though... the only thing I could think of that would be negative about too much probiotics in that in the same way they supposedly help correct the balance of too much harmful bacteria in your system, ingesting too much of them might also through your system out of balance. In the same sense that a lot of people say fat is bad, fat still is essential to our health and can be beneficial (especially anti-inflammatory omega 3!)

 

[hippie4lyfe]

i did some reading and it appears you guys are right, there doesn't seem to be a problem with too much probiotics. id imagine they die off and/or are excreted or used up and need daily replenishing.

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

Everything in moderation, I would say. The little reading I've done suggests too much leads back to gas and bloating. Whether that's true or not, or only for some people, it just makes sense not to overdo it.

I've been trying the Primal Defense for a few weeks -- one pill a day. Early to say if it helps, but it's not harming me either. I think I'll take that approach going forward, even if it eventually helps a little. Better to have it help a little than have it cause other problems.

If one little thing helps a little, then another thing helps a little, and so on, is probably a better approach than to look at one big thing as a cure-all.

 

[ladyB]

If your body has a lot of yeast, when you take a large amount of the probiotics the yeast will excrete itself through the eyes, mouth, genitalia, etc. Result equels yeast infection.
the excess yeast usually comes fom a crohnies high carb and high sugar diet...lucky us.
I have found "perfect food" by garden of life really gentle, no matter how much you take.
Good luck!

 

[hippie4lyfe]

lady thats scary because i love bread products, and now im taking lots of probiotics. right now im avoiding wheat because of my flare-up but when im better i expect to be eating lots of it. yum.

 

[BWS1982]

yeah, what Dan said too....and others, they die off if they aren't of any use...but everyone starts out with a beginning level of flora to start, and if you, for example just finished a antibiotic course, you can go much further (but slower is better) replenishing them...You can go overboard with them, it's a little harder to do than to say go overboard with something toxic like Iron or Vitamin A (not water soluable), but like I said, depends on your initial starting point how far you can go until you're "topped off" so to say. In the beginning, gas and bloat can actually get worse as the balancing starts. There's also the talk and theory that they vie for dominance, so to say, and that taking too many varieties will have them "competing", not that that's dangerous, just a possible waste of money- so timing is important.

I take Digestive Advantage (by Ganeden) for probiotics pills, twice daily...costs about $30 a month at that level, but it's not bad if it does something, I'm desperate to avoid surgery.

 

[hippie4lyfe]

Thanks Benson, I hear you and I too am desperate to avoid surgery or any complications.

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

Probiotic yogurt drink (handy small bottles you can take to work) tastes like shyte though. I tried Plain Style. Like it's gone bad.

I did buy a yogurt maker though, but that's going to be for home consumption. Going to try it with goat milk.

 

[Isla]

Ya I am not a fan of the yogurt drinks, but the regular probiotic yogurt I love.

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

Ya I am not a fan of the yogurt drinks, but the regular probiotic yogurt I love.

I think it might have a higher lactose content. That's my guess.

Even fruited-up it can't mask the taste. I don't mind the more solid regular pro-biotic yogurt, but if I can make my own from a starter culture why not? Heck, I can add on my own some cocoa to it!

 

[Isla]

I'm not lactose intolerant so I guess I don't mind that fact.

 

[ladyB]

you can get infant/baby probiotics at the health store. It's gentler and it's in a no taste powder form you can add to almost anything. I'll post later with the info...

 

[BWS1982]

Also, hippie, I'd say there's a huge proportion of users here that are "house nutritionists" as far as IBD nutrition (which is a slight bit out of the subgenre of fitness genre, just look at the topics in the Food and Diet forum here)....with the vagaries of Crohns and it's resilience to harsh treatment and medicine, you have to do your own research. Just changing ones diet can sometimes do more good than a new pill. We've all had that VERY Crohns friendly meal and saw the results when it comes out, and then gone off track with a cheat meal and saw those results too. How many of us here have had appointments and came across nurses or even doctors who were impressed you knew something about nutrition they didn't?

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Probiotic yogurt drink (handy small bottles you can take to work) tastes like shyte though. I tried Plain Style. Like it's gone bad.

I did buy a yogurt maker though, but that's going to be for home consumption. Going to try it with goat milk.

I was under the impression that pro-biotic drinks and foods were pretty much useless. Pretty much all of the bacteria is destroyed in the stomach acid. Capsules are supposed to be a better idea.

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

I was under the impression that pro-biotic drinks and foods were pretty much useless. Pretty much all of the bacteria is destroyed in the stomach acid. Capsules are supposed to be a better idea.

Yup, that's why I'm taking the Primal Defense and going back to eating yogurt just for the sake of eating yogurt.

 

[hippie4lyfe]

Benson I think a lot of people here seem to know a lot and I am greatful for this forum.

Isla being vegan doesn't really require food combining, I have been doing it for years and have felt healthy till I got diagnosed with Crohn's 6 months or so ago. I don't really have that many restrictions I just avoid dairy, eggs, and animal flesh. But legumes, wheat, beans, nuts, fruits and veggies have plenty of protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc. That being said, seeing a nutritionist might not be a bad idea because I am not too familiar with which foods create more acid and which are more anti-inflammatory. Lately acid has been a burn (ha). So, I should see if there are any vegan nutritionist around here. Maybe I'll do a google, thanks for your advice =)

Gojohnny I also take primal defense, but I don't think you can drive yourself nuts. Maybe the stomach acid kills some of it, you do your best.

 

[ladyB]

The only thing really killing off any of the probiotics is the bad or unhealthy flora or bacteria in our systems. If you have yeast or antibiotics or sugars in your body promotimg the "bad bacteria" they will destroy the good or probiotic bacteria in your system.
I agree that staying off red meat and white procesed flour is the way to go.
...just more advice from another self appointed crohn's patient...lol

 

[BWS1982]

Although in almost every circumstance outside of Crohns it's different, WITH Crohns, I'd say that usually, processed/refined flour is actually a good idea, as the higher fiber, less milled grains/flour is harder on the bowels due to extra processing needed, as well as bloating fiber....

I haven't noticed one way or the other with red meat being bad or good, it's been very neutral for me, but if you don't normally avoid red meat in the first place (like Hippie or Colt) I see no reason to keep _lean_ red meat off the menu....a family friend of my gf's, a guy who had Crohns issues long ago (remission now for like 10 years going) just before Remicade was used on him, actually ate lots of plain McDonalds hamburgers (which I'll admit are simply 100% beef), no toppings or anything...and that was one of the only things his body would take, red meat and white bread. It's not lean red meat, so I don't think highly of it, but my point is everyone's different with this disease as we all know, so if it's a problem, avoid lean red meat, but otherwise, don't go out of your way assuming it or any food, is problematic without trying it. Some foods end up making one person feel better, not worse....(this isn't meant as a pro-beef industry paragraph, more like a "try a food first, problems arise then avoid it, if you feel no change or even feel better, eat a little more"...posting)

 

[ladyB]

Let me rephrase about the flour...Gluetin free diets seem to work best for me.
I mean you seriously have to wonder about an ingredient when the word glue is in the name...?????

 

[hippie4lyfe]

"Although in almost every circumstance outside of Crohns it's different, WITH Crohns, I'd say that usually, processed/refined flour is actually a good idea, as the higher fiber, less milled grains/flour is harder on the bowels due to extra processing needed, as well as bloating fiber...."

I am starting to agree with this, I think during flare-ups white flour is better than complex carbs. But when not flaring def try to eat whole wheat, whole grain, oat, etc.

 

[BWS1982]

Well, it's actually spelled "Gluten", but pronounced "Glue-ten"....it's a good component to food, if it doesn't bother one that is, it's just the protein that's in wheat grain.

 

[hippie4lyfe]

gluten free stuff tastes bad, some of the pastas are ok though.

 

[ladyB]

Well, it's actually spelled "Gluten", but pronounced "Glue-ten"....it's a good component to food, if it doesn't bother one that is, it's just the protein that's in wheat grain.

I know how it is spelled,just driving home a point.
Thanks:smile:

 

[BWS1982]

Ah, I see.

 

[Colt]

Any organism is too great of a quantity will result in an 'infection.' That includes probiotic supplements which are largely yeast. It usually takes so much that you would have to do it to yourself on purpose and/or be on immuno-suppressants though.