Got Lychee? Photo May Wong
French scientist Henri Boulard synthesized the probiotic S. Boulardii from Lychee skins in 1920.
If you have not been hiding under a rock for the last few years, then you have seen all the marketing about probiotics supplements… And about their supposed effectiveness in keeping your guts healthy.
The bad news: You are being sold the wrong types of probiotics. And the way you are using them could be causing more harm than good.
Some background first.
Your intestines contain more than 100 trillion bacteria. Of these, 10-15% are considered “good” bacteria (or probiotics). In large numbers, they boost the immune system and help balance out so-called “bad” bacteria – those that in large numbers contribute to an inflammatory state that result in IBS.
When you have IBS, you have a different “mix” of bacteria than someone who doesn’t. Specifically you have less of the good bacteria in your system. This combination of less good bacteria and more bad bacteria triggers an aggressive immune response (or inflammation), which leads to the familiar symptoms you experience with IBS.
Therefore, in order to regain your good health, you must reestablish the delicate balance between the two types of bacteria in your gut. The optimal balance of good to bad bacteria has been estimated at an 85 to 15 ratio. This is best done by ingesting more probiotics in the form of supplements (not preferred, because I like natural whole foods) or probiotic-enhanced foods like yogurt (ideal).
You probably get bombarded by a ton of marketing information from probiotic pill makers and even commercial yogurt makers. Don’t fall for it.
- Most commercial probiotic products cause more harm than benefit: Many commercial yogurts, for example, contain high amounts of lactose and can further worsen your IBS. There is a reason why most IBS sufferers can’t tolerate dairy. Due to its lactose and casein content.
Most probiotic supplements don’t contain the right strains of bacteria, counting on uninformed masses to not realize that fact. But, this blog is also called “Natural Remedies for Smart People” for a reason. Because we do realize that fact.
- They are expensive: If you have tried consuming any of these ineffective commercial probiotic products for some time, you know this quickly get very costly.
- They often come with less than ideal guidance on how to best use them (the right dosages, when to consume, when to reduce dosage, when to stop etc.).
In my next blog post I will show you:
- Exactly which main probiotic to use. This is up to 150 times more effective than commercial probiotics, and is the single most powerful anti-IBS food you can consume. It also happens to be with virtually no side effects and something that even 99% of dairy-intolerant folks can use safely.
- How to get this probiotic for pennies.
- The secondary additional probiotic to use for even the most severe cases of IBS.
- Finally, how to best use these probiotics (dosages, when best to eat them etc.) to maximize their effectiveness.
