Probiotics: A sort-of primer

Warning: this is not at all stylish. But it may be helpful! And I am asked about this ALL THE TIME!

Long before Jamie Lee Curtis started yammering on about bifidus regularis (a totally made-up little bacteria if there ever was one), and Activia, people have been using probiotics to combat all sorts of things, um, regularity included (what?). 

Since I started nursing, my daughter and I have had thrush three (3) times, all after she turned one. Thrush sucks. Hard. It feels a little like someone poking bits of fiberglass right into your nipples, no kidding, and I'm sorry to be so graphic, but THERE YOU GO. Which, you know, UGH. After covering ourselves in everything from Nystatin to gentian violet (mmm ... purpley), the only thing that got rid of it was a steady diet of probiotic supplements and other organism-rich foods. And there have been some really great side effects, including an easier time digesting foods (SORRY), a calmer belly and less ... well, tooting, if you must know. But most importantly, THRUSH NO MORE. I'm a convert for life, friends. 

Probiotics are helpful little creatures that restore the balance in your system and help you digest foods better. Good bacteria, if you will. 

Believe me, I've tried them all at this point and here's a quick reference of what you can try if you're looking to just supplement or if you want to kill something like thrush, although you should ask your doctor about that first. (I did, but only in the, can this cure thrush? sense) 

Note: I'm not a doctor, and these things aren't really DOCTOR-LIKE things anyway, and I can't promise how you'll react and run all supplements by your actual doctor, etc. etc. END OF LAME DISCLAIMER. (I'm not worried about this, as these are pretty benign, but you know, JUST IN CASE.) THIS IS ONLY WHAT I DO. NOT WHAT I AM PRESCRIBING THAT YOU DO. 

So! For supplements, I'm not a fan of Culturelle. Everyone loves it, and honestly, it's lame. Once a day, and it does nothing. I LAUGH AT YOU, CULTURELLE. I love Jarro-Dophilus:

Billions of organisms and a bunch of different strains. Different strains are good. Plus, it's safe for little kids, although they have a baby version, too. 

I also like to drink at least one glass of kefir a day. My favorite is the blueberry from Lifeway, which you can find someplace like Whole Foods (along with the Jarro-dophilus)

If the thought of a creamy, yogurty-tart drink makes you want to hurl--and I get that, I really do--then might I recommend Good Belly juices? Delicious little things, fraught with billions of organisms. Again, my favorite is the blueberry acai (blueberries! I love them so.) And they're just regular juice-tasting. Delicious. 

So there you go. My hippie-like regimen for good digestive health. Go forth and videotape you talking about how much more REGULAR you are, and report back to me, just like you would Jamie Lee Curtis. 

Comments

[Maura]

I keep reading Jarro-dolphilus, but keep "hearing" jar-of-dolphins. DON'T EAT THE DOLPHINS, JONNA!

[Shoe Lush]

I take Align every day and eat greek yogurt every morning mixed with milled flax seed.

[amanda blythe]

This might be a dumb question, but do you have any tips for HOW to take the Jarro-dophilus? They recommend mixing it into a drink but my efforts to do so have been...awkward. I end up with weird chunks. Possibly I'm just impaired in some way. :)

[jonniker]

Amanda: The grown-up Jarro comes in capsules, so you don't even have to mix it. The baby stuff is a powder and yeah, that I mix with room temp juice or water, because if it's too cold, it gets glooby.