Probiotic Yoghurt

Hello, 

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. Sounds like the Bifidus regularis in Activia should be my first choice, as bloating is my main issue. 

Managing my symptoms is obviously my top priority, however if I am able to find something that tastes reasonable too, then that will be great. 

Thank you again. Take care and have a great day  

Joel

If you are looking for relief from bloating, read the labels carefully on yogurt, as some yogurts can actually make you bloated. I always buy plain yogurts and then mix in strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or whatever flavor I want, because when you start making flavored yogurts you can get a high sugar content, and that's not what you want when you are looking for probiotics. 

Activia is probably the best for bloating, because it doesn't leave you bloated at all like some of the other brands do. If you are looking for bloating relief, try to avoid as many of the following ingredients in yogurt as possible: Guar Gum; Lactose; Sweetener; and Fruit add in's. All of these have been known to increase bloating over time. Some people find that probiotics in yogurt are "too potent" and they actually experience bloating and gas because of the yogurt, so keep that in mind and watch for changes in your symptoms as well. 

 

I eat one small Tesco's own strawberry/raspberry yoghurt a day, normally with lunch. Low fat ones, but high sugar content. Do you think it would be best to cut those out of my diet? 

I'm not familiar with Tesco brand yogurts in terms of ingredients. You would have to check the label to see what they contain. In particular, look at the type of sweetener it contains. 

To decrease bloating, you should avoid the following sweeteners: 

Artificial Sweeteners

Erythritol

Fructose

Malitol

Mannitol

Sorbitol

Sugar alcohols

Xylitol

In addition to causing bloating, they can also make bloating, IBS with diarrhea, IBS with constipation, and general diarrhea worse

Since  we are on the subject of yogurt, some yogurt's (not sure if it applies to Tesco or not) use spices in their yogurts. The following spices can increase bloating: 

Black Pepper

Chili Powder

Cloves

Hot Sauce

Ketchup

Mustard

Nutmeg

Onion

Tomato Sauce

Vinegar

In addition to causing bloating, these spices can make acid production worse and cause problems for those with GERD, Esophagitis, hernia's, and other related disorders. 

I am going to keep this list going, even though I know the next category, vegetables, is not found in yogurts. Usually if you have bloating on a regular basis, a full diet change is necessary. Vegetables that cause bloating are: 

All vegetables in the Cabbage Family

All vegetables in the Cruciferous Family

Arugula

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Collard Greens

Kale

Kohlrabi

Rutabaga

Turnips

Also, some people with bloating, don't take kinds of fiber into consideration. Insoluble fiber is the best if you suffer from bloating, because it doesn't go through the digestive process and just goes through the entire digestive system without changing or breaking down. Soluble fiber is the opposite, it's digestion begins in the large intestine and it starts to bulk up which can cause not only bloating, but also cramping and really bad gas.

Soluble fibers to avoid if you experience bloating are:

Beta-Glucans

Guar Gum

Pectins

Psyllium

Other things to avoid: 

Carbonated beverages - fill you up with air which causes cramping, gas, and bloating

Chewing gum - contains sugar alcohols, especially the sugar free kind, that can cause gas and bloating

Lactose - a type of milk sugar that will cause bloating, cramping, and gas

Sugary beverages - Kool Aid, most juice boxes, etc. They actually cause your insulin to surge, which then causes the increase of fat production in your abdomen and you wind up bloated

Trans Fats - increases bloating and gas. May be labeles as Partially Hydrogenated Oil or Trans Fat. Generally found in baked goods, commercially packaged snacks, and instant coffee

White Flour - contains refined carbohydrates which causes your insulin and blood sugar to spike and increases fat in the abdomen, which in turn causes gas and bloating. 

I know it seems like everything is "off limits" but it's not. You can also look for foods and beverages that decrease bloating. Here is a list of those foods, beverages, and ingredients that are good to help control bloating: 

Almonds

Apples

Artichokes

Asparagus

Avocados

Bananas

Beans

Berries (especially raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries)

Brown Rice

Cantaloupe

Celery

Cucumbers

Egg Plant

Eggs

Greek Yogurt

Kale

Kimchi

Lentils

Lettuce

Mackerel

Oatmeal

Olive Oil

Plain Yogurt

Rosemary

Salmon

Shrimp

Spinach

Tomatoes

Turmeric

Water with lemon in it (room temperature)

Watermelon

Whole Grain breads

I would be happy to provide you with the reasons these foods and beverages are great to prevent bloating, but I didn't want to give you information overload (maybe I already have!)

Other things to avoid: 

Drinking straws - will cause excessive air, gas, and bloating 

Good info you found  nice research on your part ,I will be sure to pass this on ,Jay on menopause site is another who does the research to meno ,mind of info from her to,as yourself .thanks all goes to helping each other. Do what drs can't ,I have family with Crohns and colitis  this may help them to .

  Best wishes 

I have hundreds of pages of documentation over the years that I have collected. From clinics, from books, etc. Research is much easier now with the Internet, but so many don't know where to look. I find the stuff that I have from books over the years is still often more accurate then what's online. I'm in the process of typing out hundreds of pages of notes, separating them by category, etc. I have friends who are physicians who have helped a great deal over the years as well. Doctors give you the very basics, and they don't give you much else. A lot of times diet, surroundings, even something as small as soap can be the route of the problem. 

Well done you, good info for one and all.

I am lactose, wheat, dairy and glueton free have extreme diverticulitus, barretts osphecus, IBS, bone deficiency, blephitus, B12 deficiency just been diagnosed. I find if hard food wise as by time eliminate what can have with one issue then one of the other issues take out another food item. Not easy but one does what one has to, to survive. So was good to see your post as gives reminder. I Do the fodmap.diet which has helped me.greatly.

Like myself. I to have a good box of what I call goodies  all info to ailments  good and bad ,my husband says I should have a book and list them .I think today everything out there can be a problem ,but it's putting 2and 2 together ,sometimes it can be staring you in the face ,but you still miss it ,until it's brought up  then you connect the dots .Think that's why many drs now ask patients what they think is wrong. As they know many use the Internet looking for the answers ,I've never used a symptom checker ,think that's not good to do. Need to go see ones own Dr ,but if someone's mentioned a prob related to myself ,I will go look up what that site says in relation to it ,amazing what's said by individuals on said matter in question .Just look on it all as self help ,without taking up a drs appointment .Keep doing what your doing hey .All info. Is good info ,on many ailments .plus what's worked and what's not  for everyone on these various sites .

Exactly! For instance last three days I've been sicker than a dog. Well they switched brands of my medication to Teva, and it turns out they use titanium dioxide, one of my known allergies, as a filler. SIGH I thought that was why pharmacies have allergy lists, but it appears not to be. 

That's unusual for chemist,why I say that is I suffer from Rhinitis ,so fair bit don't agree with me.Im also on a BP med ,it was a chemist who told me not to have any Sudafed ,they increase BP ,I wasent told that by any Dr ,who knew I was on BP med ,and had allergies .So what if Id just gone and got them from a supermarket shelf and took them.Scary thought .So now I only go through my pharmacist ,he checks anything out for me .Id say keep to one chemist shop ,who keeps your prescription details on computer .You were really unlucky there ,hope all settles back for you .

Yeah I am having a HUGE problem with the Titanium Dioxide allergy and my pharmacy. I just posted a topic about it to see if anyone has any tips or ways I can research it myself. 

Hi - Kale is on the list that causes bloating and the list that controls bloating!  Can you tell me where you get your information from, I find a lot of websites very confusing and contradictory?

Hi Linda, 

Thanks for your reply. I looked on the Bimuno website. Which of their products do you use? 

And also, I don't drink tea, and only occasionally have coffee. Does this powder work in cold drinks the same?  

It's Bimuno prebiotic powder. I always have it with tea or coffee but you can have it with cold drinks, you can also sprinkle it on your cereal.

if you order from their website you can get three for the price of two.

 

Linda and Joel, prebiotics and Probiotics are not the same.  Probiotics work for one thing and Prebiotics works towards another (If I'm not mistaken).  Look them both up on the web .  Probiotics works for IBS for me for 13 years until I stopped taking them everyday. Thats when the IBS (if that's what I have) came back. Jay

Yes, they are different. I was going to mention that, but prebiotics work for some and probiotics for others. I've found neither work for my IBS, but it's with diarrhea, so they both make it worse. 

I truly know what you mean, it depends on your blood type also, my husband was taking them after taking antibiotics and it gave him diarrhea also, so he had to stop taking them.  Lot of us don't realize, but it has a lot to do with our blood type. What we can and cannot take.  I found that out over the years.  If you live long enough, God will give you the people in your life and wisdom to know whats going on in our lives and bodies.  Praying for you both.  Jay 

Thanks for your prayers. I so agree about God. I would not get out of bed at all in the morning if it were not for my faith!