POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Nutrition & HIV => Topic started by: Realist on June 07, 2010, 03:27:05 pm
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Not sure if anyone can help here?
I started Atripla March 26th as my first regimen (with little or no side effects after a few nights disturbed sleep - very pleased). The only complaint I had was loose motions (i'm trying to be polite!).
Each morning I would have a very urgent and watery visit to the bathroom but fine for the rest of the day. For the past three days I've been drinking two probiotic shots (brand is Actimel in the UK) a day and this has helped a lot. Still visit the bathroom first thing every morning, but nowhere near as loose and I actually feel better (less internal gas and rumblings).
Has anyone else used probiotics - the "good" bacteria?
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Realist,
Can't hurt, might help!
http://www.thebody.com/content/art52570.html
Find a yogurt you like and enjoy. I like "Stonybrook Farms low-fat french vanilla".
v
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Has anyone else used probiotics - the "good" bacteria?
Yes I do. I have used them on and off for quite a few years, and regularly since 2003. I found that after I started meds, in 2003 taking probiotics helped to settle the stomach.
I was having one Danactive in the morning and an Activia at night. I now alternate, between the two every other day.
And I can't remember the last time I had digestive issues. I don't get diarrhea. I'm Never constipated, bowel movements are normal. So, Somethings working!! You may want to consider dietary changes also to help.
I agree with Veritas. Find a yogurt you like, and enjoy. You can find more info by checking out the news section,( on this site) type in probiotics in the search box :
http://www.poz.com/archive/currentNews_1.shtml
Ray
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Not all yogurts are created equal. Some have no active cultures whatsoever.
"Probiotic" products in the supermarket tend to be industrial, and expensive.
Look for yogurts with active cultures or order some active culture supplements from a supplement shop.
Fiber food, too, I think.
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I started having that problem every day in January 2005--it was about half a year into having HIV although I didn't know it yet. Someone suggested yogurt and I started eating it; the problem went away and has never come back. What Mecch says is important. Kefir is great!
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Fiber food, too, I think.
Thanks Mecch, tried that too - only problem was it made it worse! Something to do with digestable and non-digestable fiber (I was trying to load up on on the non-digestable variety - the stuff everyone thinks of as fiber foods - seems there's helpful fiber and not so helpful fiber if you have a stomach issue). Apprently if you get diarrhea, non-digestable fiber doesn't help but digestable (like apples) does.
I'm using a yogurt with active cultures and definitely helping.
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I made a trip to Whole Foods on saturday. I picked up something called "Rejuvelac" from the rejuvenation company. It's a probiotic drink with 45 billion CFU lactobacillus acidophilus in a 32 oz bottle . I tried it yesterday. It has a horribly bitter taste. I think I'll stick with probiotic pills instead. But one has to swallow quite a few of them to get 45 billion CFU.
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45 billion live something or others, huh. When I was eating or driking too much of something my grandma would tell me it was going to be coming out my ears. All things in moderation and she's doing fine in her 90's.
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A bit more about Danone's Activia & Actimel :
http://www.foodanddrinkdigital.com/sectors/food-manufacturing/danone-withdraws-actimel-and-activia-health-claims
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I am in favor of probiotic pills. I think they offer many more bacteria than you can get in a yogurt. I read that daily count of 15 billion is preferred.
I prefer the PB8 brand
http://www.vitacost.com/Nutrition-Now-PB-8-Pro-Biotic-Acidophilus-for-Life
They have similar ones in other countries
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Someone suggested yogurt and I started eating it; the problem went away and has never come back. What Mecch says is important. Kefir is great!
Yup, if you can get your hands on some Kefir grains * and culture them yourselves, it will be very helpful. It helped me tremendously. I make/take it regularly after my Kombucha culture stopped reproducing. Keep everything for preparation clean. For a big boost, I also take Probiotic pills (20bil) weekly.
* Check your local Kefir sharing clubs.
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For a big boost, I also take Probiotic pills (20bil) weekly.
What does that mean? Once a week?
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What does that mean? Once a week?
I'm taking Kefir daily so I don't really need to pop Probiotic pills daily. Moreover, my Probiotic pills are in 20 bil count so it's too much if I were to take them daily. If you are not on Kefir, try to consume cultured yoghurt instead. You can also supplement with your Probiotic pills every other day depending on the live bacteria count. Some pills has 1-5 bil count, so those are fine for daily consumption.
Here's another natural way you can help with your GI problems. Stumbled upon this blog. You can google more on this vegetable if you choose to learn more, Good luck. ;)
http://maxloh-something2share.blogspot.com/2008/12/benefits-of-eating-ladys-finger-okra.html (http://maxloh-something2share.blogspot.com/2008/12/benefits-of-eating-ladys-finger-okra.html)
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Thanks. I just find popping a couple pills with 15bn probiotics cheaper and easier and buying Kefir. Or growing it myself :)
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Try some Greek yogurt too.
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/197406.php
A new study looking at the role probiotics may play in increasing CD4 cell count in people with HIV infection is underway at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Today, researchers began a 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to demonstrate safety and efficacy of taking capsules with 2 billion cells of a strain of Bacillus coagulans probiotics known as GanedenBC30 to increase critical CD4 cell count, a measure of immune status used to gauge progression of HIV infection...
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You should look into Culturelle (http://www.culturelle.com/), a "is a patented, clinically proven probiotic used in over 400 research studies."
Also, I take calcium (slows digestive tract), Immodium A-D (anti-diarrhea) and L-Glutamine (on an empty stomach-helps digestive cells rebuild) when things get bad. I also cut down on the coffee, which can cause diarrhea in me during times of stress.
Good luck.