Re: Re: Probiotic vs. SCD Yogurt

[Guest guest]

In

my research over the past seven years, I’ve come across articles in the

medical literature that discuss bacterial overgrowth from probiotic supplement

use in the small and large intestines, as well as the genitourinary tract. While

most of the cases involved an overgrowth of Bifidus or other bacterial strains

that we don’t use on SCD, there were some patients mentioned who had an

overgrowth of L. Acidophilus. Granted the number of patients mentioned in

these articles was a small part of the population, but there is still a risk

that it can occur in some individuals. I didn’t save any of the

articles, unfortunately; they were in the medical literature databases I have

access to because I work as a librarian.

Yes,

we do need to regularly repopulate our intestinal tract with beneficial

bacteria. But there is a major difference between whole food sources such

as yogurt or other lacto-fermented foods and a capsule or powder from a

supplement. It is much easier to overdose and develop a toxicity from a

probiotic supplement, especially when the gut ecology is already disrupted and

the immune system is compromised or suppressed due to medications.

The

key here is balance. Regular use of probiotics is necessary, but you don’t

want to overdo the supplements. Consuming enough yogurt to provide your

body with about 3 billion CFUs of L. Acidophilus once a day, or perhaps several

times a week, over a year isn’t likely to cause as many problems as

swallowing a capsule containing 10 billion CFUs of L. Acidophilus once or twice

a day for a year.

Granted

most of us won’t develop an overgrowth of L. Acidophilus, but it can

occur in some individuals. At the very least, too large a dose of a

probiotic can still stress the immune system over time. Our bodies can’t

tell the difference between “good” or “bad” bacteria;

our bodies just react to high levels of any microorganism.

Balance

and moderation is important even when it comes to probiotics. It is generally

sensible to cut back on the amount of probiotics as you heal, so as your

symptoms disappear you start eating less yogurt, or having it less often –

or only take the probiotic supplement every other day or perhaps just twice a

week.

Kim M.

SCD 6+ years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 7 years

neurological & spinal deterioration 4 years

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Is

it really possible to get an overgrowth of acidophilus on SCD? I've heard

others say acidophilus is unable to implant in our guts, hence the need to keep

a steady stream of it coming.

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

If

you are feeling fine, and seem to be healing on schedule, then don’t cut

back. Each of us have different tolerances, so we have to find what works

for us. Just pay attention to your body’s signals, and if you

develop flu-like symptoms, or you start breaking out in hives, or don’t

see/feel your digestive symptoms improving, then you know what to test first.

My

experience has been that my body won’t tolerate large doses of

probiotics, either in yogurt or in a supplement. My body let me know, in

no uncertain terms [grin]. So after my 1st year on SCD my

maintenance dose of L. Acidophilus (supplement) became one capsule every 3

days, unless I’m on antibiotics than I can take it once a day. That

is what my immune system will tolerate. It undoubtedly took me longer to

heal my gut ecology, especially as I was also dealing with a systemic candida

overgrowth and couldn’t do antifungals, but I got there in the end.

Others

have different tolerances.

I

just caution people that most of us find that as our gut ecology heals we need

less of the probiotics or risk developing an overgrowth. And supplements

make it so much easier to reach the point of an overdose.

Let

your body tell you when it needs less probiotics.

Kim M.

SCD 6+ years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 7 years

neurological & spinal deterioration 4 years

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

According

to http://scdiet.net/healingcrow/HealingCrow/www.healingcrow.com/ferfun/conspiracy/conspiracy.html

:

" if you were to eat a small bowl (500 ml) of 24 hour fermented homemade

yogurt, you would receive 1.5 trillion beneficial bacteria - 100 times more

bacteria than a 15 billion capsule. "

I eat more then 500 ml per day, and am close to 2 years on the diet. Is it

really necessary that I decrease my yogurt intake? I sure hope not!

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

Yes,

Acidophilus will populate our intestinal tract and build communities, so it

helps to take it in regularly. Some people have more difficulties

building up a balanced population of all types of microorganisms in the gut,

some people have less. So how often and how much varies with everyone,

plus it changes as your gut ecology is restored.

I

believe S. Boulardii is a microorganism that doesn’t populate, just does

its work as it goes along and is eliminated. And L. Bulgaricus and S.

Thermophilus, found in yogurt starters because they are necessary for milk

coagulation, are both killed in the stomach so don’t populate the

intestinal tract. At least I think both are killed, might just be one of

the two.

Kim M.

SCD 6+ years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 7 years

neurological & spinal deterioration 4 years

currently dealing with skin issues on hands and arms

(carcinomas)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I

feel fine, and yogurt has always been one of my safe foods. Glad to know I can

keep chowing down :-).

So acidophilus does indeed implant in our guts? I read somewhere that it can't.

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08