I recommend few probiotic supplements for people to use to help fix their gut, and Smidge is one that I recommend. For example, I am one of the few dissenting opinions regarding recommending HSO “probiotic” supplements. I do not recommend HSO “probiotic” supplements because of a lack of efficacy and safety studies. I stopped recommending many different Bifido and Lacto-containing probiotic supplements because some contained strains that either produced too much D-lactate or too much histamine, which can cause many people issues. Is every probiotic supplement perfect for everyone? Sadly, no. Some people can still have side effects when taking Smidge, just like anyone can have issues with any probiotic supplement. For most people, though, Smidge can be beneficial, and I recommend it.
Why I Recommend Smidge
One of the leading probiotic supplements I have had success recommending is Smidge. The bacterial strains in Smidge do not produce histamine, and most of the strains do not produce large amounts of D-lactate. It is safe for most people that have those issues to take and hopefully gain the digestive benefits of taking a high quality probiotic supplement. Smidge powder is free of common allergens, including milk, casein, fish, shellfish, eggs, gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, corn, gluten, yeast, and soy. Smidge also tests each batch of probiotics for potency, strain integrity, and contamination. Smidge is also free of any prebiotics, which may cause negative digestive symptoms. Depending on the prebiotic, they may feed overgrowth, worsening symptoms.
Smidge’s probiotics are freeze-dried and technically shelf-stable when kept at room temperature. However, Smidge states that the strains in Smidge will start to lose potency at temperatures greater than 95F. They offer dry ice shipping and cold packs for an additional cost. I recommend that if you live in an area with temperatures above 70F to use the dry ice shipping service to maintain that your probiotic supplement remains cold throughout transportation for maximum potency. I would also store the Smidge Powder in the refrigerator when you receive it. They also offer measuring spoons at an additional cost which I recommend to achieve proper doses. Finally, Smidge is produced in the United States and is manufactured and shipped in a GMP-compliant facility with filtered air systems and temperature control to maintain the potency of their supplements.
Health Concerns that Smidge May Improve
- Allergies (may increase Th2 reactions and sensitization in some people)
- Asthma (may increase Th2 reactions and wheezing in some people)
- Bile reflux
- Bile malabsorption
- Bloating
- C. difficile dysbiosis
- Crohn’s disease
- D-lactate acidosis/sensitivity (it may also worsen because Smidge contains Lactobacillus plantarum, which produces D-lactate)
- Eczema
- GERD (heartburn)
- Histamine intolerance
- IBS
- Lactose intolerance
- Leaky gut
- LERD
- Liver disease
- Nutrient breakdown and absorption
- SIBO (might be needed to be given as a probiotic enema if you have reduced MMC function)
- Ulcerative colitis
- Upper gut dysbiosis (H. pylori)
- While taking antibiotics or if you are hospitalized to help increase immunity
- Yeast dysbiosis in the gut
Breakdown of Individual Strains in Smidge
Bifidobacteria bifidum – A strain of Bifidobacteria that is usually found in the colonic and vaginal flora of humans. The probiotic has been shown to help maintain healthy flora, bolster the immune system, and help digest carbohydrates. Recent studies have shown that bifidum may relieve allergies by decreasing Th2 immune reactions and may help suppress allergic reactions by restoring proper immune regulation.1 2 3
Bifidobacteria breve – A strain of Bifidobacteria found in the colonic and vaginal flora of humans. Cases of people with IBS have been shown to have a shortage of this important probiotic. In breastfed infants, breve has been shown to make up a majority of their gut bacteria. Breve ferments oligosaccharides in the digestive tract and also helps produce L-lactate.4 5 6
Bifidobacteria infantis – A strain of Bifidobacteria that is found in both infant and adult human colonic flora. Infantis helps produce acids that impede the colonization of opportunistic bacteria by lowering colonic pH. Studies have shown it to be beneficial in eliminating symptoms associated with IBS.7 8 9
Bifidobacteria longum– A strain of Bifidobacteria that is found as flora in the large intestine. Bifidobacteria longum is also known to be one of the first colonizing probiotics in newborns. Bifidobacteria longum is important to the metabolism, fermentation, and digestion of some carbohydrates in the intestinal tract, including oligosaccharides. Bifidobacteria longum can break down and ferment amino acids. The probiotic strain can also metabolize bile salts and bile acids so that they can be deposited in the stool and others reabsorbed properly during enterohepatic circulation, improving liver function, fat digestibility, and detoxification.
Bifidobacteria longum has been shown in studies to improve lactose intolerance, prevent diarrhea, alleviate some food allergies, and help fight colonization of opportunistic bacteria in the colon. Finally, Bifidobacteria longum has been shown in studies to help scavenge free radicals in the gastrointestinal system and help prevent colorectal cancer.10 11 12 13 14 15
Lactobacillus gasseri – A strain of Lactobacilli that is found in the upper gut and vaginal flora. It seems to help with weight maintenance, maintaining a healthy microbiome, and competes with H. pylori to reduce its colonization.16 17
Lactobacillus plantarum – A strain of Lactobacilli that is found in the human small and large intestine. It is used in the production of sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, and sourdough bread. Plantarum is an excellent probiotic that has been shown to help eliminate the symptoms associated with IBS. It can reform the gastrointestinal mucus barrier and inhibits opportunistic bacteria by making bactericidal peptides. It can produce D-lactate, which may cause issues in people who have poor D-lactate metabolism. Lactobacillus plantarum also prevents allergies, especially to soybeans. Finally, Lactobacillus plantarum stimulates the immune system by producing the amino acid L-lysine in the intestine.18 19
Lactobacillus salivarius – A strain of Lactobacilli that is typically found in the oral cavity and upper gut of humans. It can also be found in the human intestinal system. Salivarius keeps opportunistic bacteria in the oral cavity in check so that dental caries will not occur.20
Smidge Conclusion
I do recommend probiotic supplements for some people to improve their digestive health, although the jury is still out on their efficacy and if they implant. Studies of people taking probiotic supplements show that CFU (colony-forming unit) amounts of probiotics cultured in their stool return to normal a few weeks after supplementation. These results indicate that taking probiotic supplements may not cause them to implant into the digestive tract’s mucosal layer and increase the overall amounts of probiotic bacteria in our microbiome. The ingestion of probiotics may only modulate the immune system and, in doing so, may benefit people greatly depending on the strain. For others, however, it may cause different immune reactions worsening their symptoms. In people with severe Th1 / Th2 dominance, it is hard for me to recommend Smidge or any probiotic supplement for that matter.
Also, individuals with severe D-lactate metabolism issues may not be able to tolerate Smidge. The bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum that is used in Smidge produces D-lactate, but most produce L-lactate which may balance lactate concentrations in the digestive tract reducing issues. Some people with D-lactate issues can tolerate Smidge, while others may not; it is worth a shot to see if it improves your digestive health.
I recommend trying Smidge Infant if you are having severe digestive issues or severe D-lactate issues. It might be better tolerated with half of the probiotic being comprised of Bifidobacteria infantis (a well-tolerated strain), and the removal of L. plantarum which can produce some D-lactate during plateau phases of the growth cycle. 21
People with severe immune compromisation should use any probiotic supplement, including Smidge, with caution because it may cause sepsis. Even though Lactobacillus is considered a probiotic genus, infections of the probiotic have been noted. These “infections” may not occur from colonization but rather from increased Th1 or Th2 reactions, which worsen symptoms through increased cytokine production by the immune system. 22
Start with small doses when taking probiotic supplements at first to see how you react to them. Increase the dosage if need be and if you can tolerate it well to see if your digestive health further improves. The best time to take the probiotic supplement is to wake on an empty stomach with a glass of filtered water in the morning. I suggest waiting at least one hour afterward to eat breakfast so that the probiotics will hopefully survive passage through the stomach without contending with a lowered stomach pH during eating for increased chances of survival.
Smidge has been forthcoming in information about the integrity of the probiotic supplement, and I respect that. They test each batch for its integrity and provide means of keeping the probiotic supplement cold and fresh from the time of manufacturing to delivery. Even though I have minor caveats with Smidge, my caveats could be applied to most if not all probiotic supplements. If you are going to take a probiotic supplement, you need to take one that can be trusted and has the right strains necessary to help your digestive health recover. That is why I recommend Smidge and have recommended it to some clients that I have coached with great results.
Get a bottle of Smidge today!
Other Smidge Probiotic Supplement Recommendations:
- http://gut.bmj.com/content/51/1/51.abstract ↩
- Black, Jacquelyn. Microbiology: Principles and Explorations, Wiley, May 1, 2012. ↩
- Perlmutter, David, Brain Maker, Little, Brown and Company, 2015. ↩
- Black, Jacquelyn. Microbiology: Principles and Explorations, Wiley, May 1, 2012. ↩
- Perlmutter, David, Brain Maker, Little, Brown and Company, 2015. ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4686345/ ↩
- Black, Jacquelyn. Microbiology: Principles and Explorations, Wiley, May 1, 2012. ↩
- Perlmutter, David, Brain Maker, Little, Brown and Company, 2015. ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350908/ ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12381787 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16549425 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10831430 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11007114 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1406371 ↩
- Perlmutter, David, Brain Maker, Little, Brown and Company, 2015. ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3504346/ ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3295086/ ↩
- Perlmutter, David, Brain Maker, Little, Brown and Company, 2015. ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11711768 ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20441548 ↩
- http://hkjpaed.org/pdf/2006%3B11%3B246-254.pdf ↩
- http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/1/62.full ↩
Do you recommend Seed?
John, the Smidge website does not list product ingredients which is a problem. It is important to know whether the probiotic is in a certain type of starch which some of us may be allergic to. That has been my problem with probiotics, what is the medium it is in? Can you please share this information? Thank you.
Hi John,
I stumbled upon your website today as I was researching out what probiotics to take to support my GI system post colonoscopy. My functional practitioner is recommending Dr Ohhira’s Probiotics (Professional Supplement) and when I looked at the ingredient list, I was a bit wary of the carrageenan in it. I am currently using Enviromedica’s Terra Flora (Daily Care). Would love to hear your thoughts on these two products. Thank you.
Hi John – any thoughts on Equilibrium, from General Biotics?
It’s got 115 strains, 85 not found in other supps. No SBOs or Lactos, human sourced.
Ken from CFSremission likes it.
Many seem to be Enterobacteria tho, some of which are opportunistic.
What do you think?
Hi John, I’m taking the Smidge infant powder probiotic. I am bedbound with cfs and due to yeast allergy and severe food intolerances from mould this is the first probiotic I have ever tolerated. Excited. But I read your comment about poor MMC and how it’s better to take the probiotic as an enema. Due to Methane gas paralysing my bowel and severely constipating me, I actually can’t empty my bowel without an enema x 2 a week. Anymore irritates. Is it okay for me to continue with Smidge Infant or will it make me sick due to not reaching the right place? Not sure I can fix my gut without it as I’m down to 2 foods and intolerant to everything else. Look forward to your thoughts thank you.
Hello John,
Is it possible to take Smidge directly to the gut as enema for example?
Thank you.
I’ve been taking 2 servings of smidge probiotic powder with the tiny 20mg serving spoon that came with the probiotic for a little over two weeks. I’ve noticed an increase in gas and bloating, sometimes stomach aches, and constipation that seems like every other day. Is this normal? Is my gut just adjusting? How long will take for these side effects to pass?
Might need to reduce the dosage and see if those issues go away. Might also need to take it with food.
I started this powder 8 weeks ago along with a vegan diet. I’m now in remission with my ulcerative colitis. Amazing product.
I had good results with gutpro capsules. I have switched to powder.
I feel no further changes. Do the powder really survive stomach acid?
I take it with food, not warm.
Relative to the D-Lactate issue, what do you think of the products like Custom Probiotics’ D-lactate free powder that are specifically targeting only d-lactate free strains?
The Custom Probiotics D-lactate free is a good supplement, I recommend it in my D-lactate blog.
What do these people mean they don’t supply the name of the strains what is all the names of strains on the website then. I am new to this and have a non verbal two year old daughter we suspect has autism. I just ordered this probiotic and will be the first one we have ever tried
On GutPro®
Last year I made an attempt to discover what specific strains are being used in GutPro®. I came up against the same diversionary response you probably encountered, “They’re proprietary”. A response like this implies the company is trying to protect their bottom line…or something. But what is it they’re really trying to do? Do they have my best interests in mind with a response like that?
What I seek in a probiotic is (clinical) EFFICACY. Regarding GutPro®, it begs the question, what specific efficacy has GutPro® demonstrated? The company has done no clinical research on their ingredients and the formulation(s). The ingredients appear to be readily available off-the-library shelf ingredients. In fact, they have zero published studies for their GutPro® product(s). Not even small-sample (biased) studies. It appears they have no financial investment in documenting GutPro’s efficacy. So, what are they trying to protect by deflecting my inquiry?
By listing the specific strains used on their products the manufacturer could offer me, the consumer, proof that their ingredients, in fact, have clinically relevant strains that I can then research and make an informed decision about. But this manufacturer chooses not to do that. Do you think it’s because there is no viable and ethical clinical research behind the efficacy of the off-the shelf wholesale ingredients they use? There are plenty of innocuous generic strains of species that I can buy and consume that are safe for “sensitives” like me (to ingest). But only a precious few have any clinical effect on my biology.
I want to purchase and consume a probiotic formula or strain that works (for me). In order to do that I need to make informed decisions about what I’m buying. I need accurate label information in order to inform my decisions. Unfortunately, the makers of GutPro® would prefer to keep me in the dark. Does that sound like a company that has my best interests in mind? Instead of facts, GutPro® touts nebulous ideas like, “quality” and”pure” and “high standards” and “guaranteed potency”. That’s well and good but, “does your product work?”. To me, “guaranteed potency” means the product has been formulated and equipped to deliver a specific biological effect. Lots of something that hasn’t been documented to work is meaningless to me. I want to know if the company is using ingredients that have been (ethically) proven to have a biological effect; and what that effect was. Because even within a species, different strains within a species have been proven to have different effects.
GutPro® touts that it uses ingredients that, “have been thoroughly researched, documented, and banked in recognized microbial culture collections”. That means nothing in the context of clinical efficacy.Their ingredients came from the same wholesalers everyone buys their raw materials from. The overwhelming majority of the ingredients in those culture collections/libraries are clinically irrelevant and impotent. I want access to the histamine-degrading or histamine-neutral strains that are clinically relevant and proven to generate a specific biological effect. A precious handful have any biological effect whatsoever. In order to make informed decisions I need to know the strain being used in the product. Most commercial probiotic makers would have you believe that’s not important. I believe it is the most important consideration.
I would refer you to the work of Dr. Jason Hawrelak:
The Importance of Strain
https://www.probioticadvisor.com/probiotic-essentials-1/the-importance-of-strain/#.Wz6R4dJKhPb
The GutPro people are smart enough to know that, “Certain strains found in (other) commercial probiotic formulas can cause acidosis, histamine and other adverse reactions.” And they’re also smart enough to qualify what claims they do make with their disclaimer, (* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.) Perhaps that’s why they refuse to reveal what strains they use in their products. Because they know what informed consumers of probiotics know. The strains they use are clinically impotent.
For me, I’ll stick with probiotic products that have identified exactly what strain(s) they contain so I can make smart decisions for my microbiome. I’ll stick with the strains that have scientifically and ethically (without bias) been proven to generate specific biological effects. GutPro isn’t one of them.
I ordered GutPro in early Spring, since every other probiotic I’ve tried either has had no effect or a negative effect (and GutPro is “supposed to be” the most pure and the best), and partly because of your recommendation. However, even the tiniest amounts of GutPro (less than 1/4 of the “drop” dose) exacerbated my histamine reactions that I’ve had with other probiotics, fermented foods, and yeast products. Anxiety, insomnia, itching and very painful kidneys that pretty much make me an invalid until about a week after I stopped taking it. I stopped and started GutPro several times, attempting to take even tinier doses–with the same effect. This was not simply “die-off” symptoms that many users supposedly experience. Apparently for some small percentage of us, even these bacterial strains are not safe. Luckily, after submitting my negative review of their product, they gave me a refund (their website says they don’t give refunds, but I guess this is how they deal with negative reviews so the reviews on their site all look positive. They never posted my review!). You did suggest that very sensitive individuals could try the GutPro Infant, but I am too scared to do so and don’t really have the money to chance it in case it doesn’t work for me and they won’t send another refund. It’s not only me that had problems with GutPro; I’m a member of an online MCAS/MCAD group that has discussed various probiotics and some who have tried GutPro for leaky gut symptoms and also had similar issues.
Thanks for writing a great article. I understand you recommend taking the probiotic an hour away from food. I have the powder form, so the best way I know how to take it is by sprinkling it on food. How would I take the powder without food?
I also wanted to know your thoughts on the following, which I read off the Gutpro website: “Taking your probiotic with food is provides a buffering system for the supplement and ensures its safe passage through the digestive tract, given powerful stomach acid that can interfere when food is not present. Aside from protection, food also provides the friendly bacteria in your probiotic the proper nourishment to ensure its survival in your gut.” That is the opposite of what many others say, and so I’m a bit lost as to whether or not I should take the supplement with food.
Hi there
What do you think of primal soil by the makers of gut pro.
They seem to have tested thier soil based organisms for safety
Thanks
Still not a fan of it which is why I do not recommend it.
Aren’t you legally required to identify that you are using affiliate links in this post? And as a writer, mentioning that bias is also important. I’m having a hard time trusting your opinions on this site as it feels like you’re hiding your motives.
I have a post that Fix Your Gut uses affiliate links and it is also in the Terms and Conditions and Disclaimer pages, it is well known that FYG uses affiliate links, I do not hide it. Corganic has never given me anything, not even a free sample of any of their products. I recommend them because I believe in the probiotic.
Do you think the custom probiotics brand lactate free blend is safe for sibo?
Can anyone comment on primal gut powder from the makers of gut pro? It seems to be the advanced version with 13 strains but has less CFUs per serving. John please could you share your opinion? Thank you
https://www.corganic.com/products/primal-gut-powder
On their website they say start with gutpro then primal later on
Hey John I see that you said stool tests return to normal after two weeks of probiotics intake. Is this true for these specific strains in this product also?
Possibly, yes, as much as I recommend Gutpro this might be true of any probiotic supplement. Again, probiotic supplements may modulate the immune system, for most hopefully in a positive way. Gutpro is one of the probiotics least likely to cause issues, histamine free and D-lactate free.
Hej John,
I´m writing from Danmark.
in your prescription of GutPro you write nothing about
BIFIDOBACTERIUM LACTIS – as it is also one (maybe new) ingredient in GutPro.
I have histaminose and i read that B. lactis may not so good (histamin/thyramin??)..?
But its in almost every brobiotik supplement I fear.
Now I´m not shure to bye GutPro or not? :'(
I heard also Bifidobacteria animalis subsp lactis BB12 is very good, but dont think thats the same.. ?
I´m very big fan of your fantastic blog and your work.. :)
Nina
Hej John,
in your prescription of GutPro you write nothing about
BIFIDOBACTERIUM LACTIS – as it is also one (maybe new) ingredient in GutPro.
I have histaminose and i read that B. lactis may not so good (histamin/thyramin??)..?
But its in almost every brobiotik supplement I fear.
Now I´m not shure to bye GutPro or not? :'(
I heard also Bifidobacteria animalis subsp lactis BB12 is very good, but dont think thats the same.. ?
I´m very big fan of your fantastic blog and your work.. :)
Nina
Thoughts on Progurt? Human strain probiotic that seems to be really effective
Hi John,
Any thoughts on Primal Gut?
Shawn
I switch around for probiotic use.
Right now I take Megafora a few days a week as it contains strains that GutPro does not, and I take GutPro the other days.
I notice that Megaflora seems to impove my mood more than others.
I just added BioGaia Gastrus, which is a chewable Reuteri. I added it because it was said to improve social anxiety and I did notice an improvement. It can cause high histamine which it did at first but for some reason that reaction went away with further use.
I just added BioRay Bellymend which is a weaker version of their Cytoflora, just started it so can’t say if it has helped.
I have IBC, IC and fibromyalgia
why not just eat fermented foods. I only go by what mercola said, that kimchi has alot more probiotics.
im not sure about the diversity though. these probiotics are very expensive. Anyhow, i wonder which one better
Both have their own merit, I agree David. Some people would not be able to tolerate fermented foods because of histamine intolerance, and they would be able to tolerate Gutpro. I am a fan of both and both have their uses and merits, and their drawbacks.
Hello,
Thanks for this post. I wanted to know if using GutPro capsules is also okay for people with SIBO?
thank you so Much.
Greetings Sara
Possibly, if you have SIBO-C and slow motility it may make your SIBO worse. The probiotic bacteria may colonize in the small intestine, and worsen SIBO.
Here you write, “The best time to take the probiotic supplement is in the morning upon waking on an empty stomach with a glass of filtered water.” In your book and in a couple other posts here, you say to take them “before bed with a glass of non-chlorinated/filtered/bottled water.” Which time is best, or is it different in different circumstances?
Different circumstances, it depends on the person. Both are good, nighttime is probably the best.
Hi, thank you for the article about Gutpro. I am a mother of a four year old child with what seems an immune system of a baby. From two allergy bloodtests it seems she only has a severe dustmite allergy and she has barely been to school last year because of illness mostly due to gut issues and other viruses. She sneezes and has a dry caugh. Also has major (seems just air really!) flatulence. I noticed strangely it starts as soon as she sits down to eat. No doctor will take this information seriously obviously and am considering taking her to a naturopath. She has been on antibiotics a few times and always I followed up carefully with just a little tiny bit of probiotics and fish oil. We have tried regular gutpro powder but didn’t notice anything while on it. I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing so emailed ergomax (reseller europe) to ask about potency of this expensive probiotic. Gutpro advise on refridgeration, I don’t really see how this could be kept potent enough. Ergomax were very helpful providing an honest answer.
My question is, would there be any piece of advice that you could give me to help my girl? Whatever small tip would be apreciated! Gathering all information I can.
Thank you very much.
D
What’s your opinion on Teraganix EM-1?
Average opinion of it, I still like Gutpro, Elixa, and Custom Probiotics better.
I’m new to your site- have been trying GutPro for several months. Horrible gas and diarrhea- just getting educated about SIBO, etc. and am a little overwhelmed. Can’t keep living with the amount of gastric distress I’m under. Wondering if I should Stop the gut pro?
Yes, Mary it would appear that Gutpro is not right for you. I like Gutpro and recommend it, but no probiotic supplement is perfect for everyone. For most people if you do not see any improvement when using it in a few weeks or it is causing you great distress then stop it and work on your gut and try to see if you can tolerate it later.
Hi Mary
Did you stop taking it and still have the rest?
If do, can I buy it from you?
I would like to try it but it’s so expensive.
I’m afraid to buy it and to throw it away in case of intoletance.
Regards, Susan
Hi,
When you say ‘it doesn’t implant’, do you mean the body adapts to it and it will become less effective? What about Corganic’s Gutzyme supplements? Do you have any information on those? Thank you
There is a possability that no probiotic supplement implants or implants in the large enough numbers to make a difference in the gut. Implantation means that it becomes a part of the microbiome. They look fine for digestive enzyme supplements.
So do you prefer the GutPro vs the Gutzyme? And in regard to my first question, I guess what i’m asking, is if i’ll need to always increase the dose? Due to the body adapting to it? Thank you again! :)
They both have different uses, Gutpro is a probiotic and Gutzyme is a digestive enzyme, I like both. Your second question is too broad of a question to really answer. It depends on the individual situation and person. Generally, if you need greater doses of a probiotic or a digestive enzyme instead of titrating down, then it is not really taking care of your issue.
Hi John,
Would you recommend Custom Probiotics, they have no FOS, dairy, wheat, gluten, sugar, soy etc. and have 60 billion CFU’s per capsule with the strains: L. Acidophilus, L. Rhamnosus, L. Plantarum, B. Lactis, B. Bifidum. I am torn between this product and GutPro Powder. Should a GOS prebiotic also be taken with the probiotics?
Yes, I recommend them as well, great probiotic. Yes, taking GOS would feed the probiotics helping to culture a probiotic microbiome.
John, Gutpro does not contain the reuteri or johnsonii strains, which have some decent research behind them. When I asked Gutpro, they avoided the question as to why they don’t include them. (That strategy actually made me less confident in them, as it was what a PR/Marketer would do.)
What do you think of those strains and why isn’t your top recommendation something with one or both of those?
I am a fan of both strains, in certain instances when they are needed, just like any probiotic strain. L. reuteri produces histamine, L johnsonii produces a good amount of D-lactate and so does L. reuteri. I recommend Gutpro because there are no histamine strains and very low D-lactate producing strains. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0054335
Hello John.
I found thru GI effects testing that I have high overgrowth of the following commensalism bacteria:
Bacteroides prevotella and vulgatus
Faecalubacterium prausnitzii
Veillonella spp
Escherichia coli
Oxalobacter formigenes.
I’m low on bifidos and my lactobacillus tho moderate to n presence is too weak to grow in culture.
My fecal secretory iga is high and my M butyrate is low.
Multiple food intolerances prevent dietary change. The food intolerances perpetuate the overgrowth
Would I possibly benefit from trying to crowd those out by supplementing with a strong bifido/lactobacillus probiotic?
Renew life’s 150billion count doesn’t help one bit…
I’m at wits end here… please help
Maybe, but for most probiotics would not implant. That being said Gutpro is at least alive when it reaches you to differing degrees compared to most other probiotics, so its chance of implanting is better. What if an untested organism is causing your issues? Ingestion of targeted prebiotics like collagen, Sunfiber, and GOS might help as well.
Would love some info on adrenal support. I have submitted a saliva test to a lab and my adrenals are shot. I have take son Adapticrin I believe it’s called. What foods work also. Thank you
Why does gut pro say to be taken with food when I have always been told to take probiotics on an empty stomach. How do I take the powder form? You say on an empty stomach, they say with food, not liquid. But how do I take it. Even the capsules say to be taken with food. I would prefer to take them on an empty stomach, which makes more sense, but the company doesn’t recommend it. Please help me clear up this confusion because my family is on stage 2 of the gaps diet and ran out of our other brand of probiotics so I purchased gut pro powder. It doesn’t seem to be working. Heartburn and constipation have returned in only 3 days of use.
It would appear that they say to take with food to prevent stomach upset. Overly cautious in my opinion.
Thank you I’ve been doing some reading on here and a couple of the Adrenal Fatigue websites you shared in one of your articles and after reading these I was looking forward to trying probiotics again. I had occasionally tried whatever brand I saw at the supermarket and never really noticed any positive results. But then I saw your article on Megaspore and was alarmed when I realized there was much for me to understand about probiotics. After reading a couple more on your site I think I’m going to try the Gutpro powder! I will let you know how it goes! P.S. If anyone was interested in those other links they are here (https://www.drlam.com/blog/microbiome-gut-flora/23823/) here (https://www.drlam.com/blog/healthy-microbiome-adrenal-fatigue-part-1/21862/) and here (https://www.drlam.com/blog/benefits-from-probiotics/5702/)
I’ve been trying to research what it means when a person has high SIgA. I see lots of info on LOW SIgA, but am wondering what it means if I have HIGH SIgA. Mine is 567 (normal is 20-160). I have no idea what to do about it.
Thanks!
Anne
my teenage daughter has SIBO-C and is on a herbal protocal for a month of Berberine, Neem and Allimed and is taking Iberogast daily. After this protocal we were planning on going on a probiotic, is Gutpro a good one for her SIBO do you think? Thanks for your help
Yes it is and one of the only few I would recommend.
Hi! How would you know if you react to probiotics or have any symptoms such as d-lactate or severe immunocomprimisation? Sorry I’m new to this and am a nursing mom with a baby who has eczema. I’m suspecting I have gut issues and have passed it, but I’m worried now in giving probiotics since you mention these other symptoms. Any advice?
If you eat yougurt and you get brain fog you have issues with D-lactate more than likely. I doubt you have severe immunocomprimisation unless you have autoimmune issues or cancer for example.
I have a friend with breast cancer who was prescribed antibiotics. She ended up getting a yeast infection on her tongue due to the antibiotics even through she was taking a probiotic she purchased from costco. I recommended she switch to Gut Pro. However, you stated in your article that people with severe immunocompromisation should use any probiotic supplement including Gutpro with caution because it may cause sepsis. What do you recommend for a person in this situation?
Ergomax has gutpro in europe.
How long would you suggest taking this probiotic if one is taking antibiotics for a UTI?
Hi John, can you recommend me a similarly great probiotic that doesnt cause histamin issues and also dairy/gluten free but available in Europe? Id like to use it as part of my SIBO treatment. Also, are you available for counselling via email? I would need some guidance :)
Yes, send me an E-mail, [email protected].
I am writing from the UK, with the same question: can you help me? I became excited by the information about Megaspores probiotics.
A few years ago a nutritionist in London sent my poo sample to the USA for testing. It found that a key good bacterium was missing. Unfortunately I don’t remember which one.
My IBS became acute and I started on the Fodmaps diet, which has been very helpful.
The main programme here recommends a probiotic called Symprove. I’ve been taking it daily for at least a year, but I still have unwanted symptoms. It’s expensive, and I think it’s time to try something else.
I am unaware of any that are in Europe. Yes, I am contact me at [email protected].
Hi there, are you aware they’ve not only changed the name but the formula. It now only has 3 billion cfu with the one dosing spoon you get with it now. That’s a far cry from the 25 billion cfu with the bigger dosing spoon in the set of 3 spoons. And they’re selling it at the same price. Very disappointing.