What's going on Hermanation!

 

I have some questions regarding Probiotics. I know what it is. My doctor highly recommended that I start taking them. Almost every TV commercial that I see regarding a Probiotic product like the Dannon Bifidus yogurt or the pills, they recommend to stay on it for 2 weeks. What I want to know is what is so significant about taking a Probiotic for two weeks. When the two weeks are done, would I stop taking them? Is it like a cycle: 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off?

 

#HTH

Adrian,

 

Why did the doctor recommend you take them? Usually a doctor will recommend them if you have been on a long cycle of antibiotics or had a bout of food poisoning as this kills a lot of the beneficial bacteria living in your gut. You usually use them for a couple of weeks or so as this provides enough time to re-populate your gut with the beneficial bacteria you have lost due to illness or certain injuries. After this point, there really is no need to continue using them. Without these bacteria, you can't fully process and absorb the vital micronutrients from your food.

 

John

Hey John! Thanks for the info.

The doctor recommended I take them because I have what seems to be an apocaliptic digestive system (from my poin-of-view). I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, gastritis, esophagitis, a tortuous colon, internal hemorroids and a small polyp on my gallbladder. I'm more than careful with my diet now. I just started eating those Activia yogurts. I have one a day. They're good. I was just curious about that 2-week thing. My goal is to do whatever it takes to not worsen my condition so that I won't need surgery.

 

-Adrian

Adrian,

 

Diet and the foods you eat are most important for health as you are now learning. The digestive issues you are having are the result of a bad diet. I am not sure what you were eating before but if you were eating a typical U.S. diet of highly processed grains, high amounts of simple and man-mad sugars, low fat, and high salt and chemicals these are the types of ailments you will experience. I am not preaching here I am just highlighting how many people ignore their diet and then suffer with ailments because of it.

 

The probiotics will help restore the healthy flaura in your colon and if you are now eating a more nutritious diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and essential fats and cholesterol, you will see all these maladies disappear :-)

 

John

I'm not going to deny that there was a period when I was eating junk food. But, my digestive issues started when I was already losing weight. Up until early 2013, my maximum weight was 200 lbs. Right then, I decided to make a change. I changed my diet, went to the gym and the weight started coming off. It was good. Around August later that year, some personal issues came up and I lost my motivation to go the gym and I started getting back to my old eating habits. What's weird was that I was neither gaining nor losing any weight. October was the month that I started going to the doctor for my stomach issues and I was weighing around 175-180 lbs. Nowadays, I weigh between 155-160 lbs. I've lost more weight with my issues than I did working out. I haven't been back to the gym since August. I'd like to be able to go back to the gym one day worry-free.

Adrian,

 

You will and you are doing the right things to get there :-) The reason you didn't gain any weight while dealing with these issues is your digestive tract was so inflammed you weren't able to absorb the majority of the calories you were eating. The good thing is these are all reversable with proper diet and exercise and you have taken the necessary steps to get there.

 

John

Hey Adrian,

 

I am just curious, were you starving yourself when you were losing weight? Were you taking some laxatives?

80% ish of your immune system is in your gut. Yes, if you are on antibiotics you need a good probioitc and even when you're off them you should still be taking one unless you regularly eating fermented foods, which I'm willing to bet you dont, like many other people. Many diseases begin in the gut. Lots of sugar feed the hamrful microbes and other toxins as well. There's no downside to taking a probioic everyday of your life, but there is much to risk by not being on one. It's one of the supplements I think everyone needs to be on, again unless you eat fermented foods every day.