probiotics

21 July 2011

Probiotics: Fighting Migraine and More?

We’ve discussed probiotics here before, as part of the arsenal that could fight migraine in particular. Probiotics are the good bacteria that comes in fermented foods like yogurt, as well as certain supplements.

Studies on how probiotics are used by the body suggest that they may have some very tangible health benefits (of course – we knew that!). The head researcher, Professor Mark Lyte, points out: "There is already evidence to suggest that the connection between gut microbes and the nervous system represents a viable route for influencing neurological function. A recent study in mice, for example, showed that the presence of neurochemicals such a serotonin in the bloodstream was due to direct uptake from the gut."

Serotonin? That’s a very common word in migraine research for sure. Could this be one reason why probiotics are helping migraine patients?

Commenting on the research, Dr Gregor Reid writes:

Until recently the idea that probiotic bacteria administered to the intestine could influence the brain seemed almost surreal. Yet in Lyte’s paper the concept is supported by studies showing that microbes can produce and respond to neurochemicals, which can induce neurological and immunological effects on the host.

The research presents an idea for selecting probiotic strains with neurological applications and linking this with immune-modulatory effects, while highlighting the fact that microbial strains already being widely ingested in fermented food can produce neurochemicals.

The moral of the story is that probiotics could fight not only migraine, but things like depression and anxiety. That’s in addition to issues such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Could it be that in the future there will be specific migraine probiotic supplements? I bet there will be – but before you buy them, wait until the research catches up with the marketing! 🙂

Meanwhile, try a quality brand of probiotics, such as these ones.

via A Gut-Full of Probiotics for Your Neurological Well-Being

6 June 2009

What are the best brands of probiotics?

James Tips, Treatments 2

We’ve talked here before about the best brands of probiotics, but I want to add some other considerations into the mix and give you a bit of an update.

Why probiotics for migraine and headache disorders? Well, for migraine in particular, there is a growing body of evidence linking the frequency and intensity of your migraine attacks to the health of your gut. And probiotics – those microorganisms that naturally live in your gut – are an important part of your overall health.

Probiotics have solidly entered the marketplace, and can be found in many health foods. Also, they have begun to enter the mainstream of medical treatment, and are being used and investigated to treat a variety of infections, gastrointestinal disorders, and even allergic disorders and respiratory infections. Research is being done to use probiotics to help cancer patients on chemo, and patients dealing with the aftermath of antibiotic treatments. Probiotics are becoming popular for treatment as well as preventative health.

Ready to try it? Not so fast!

But when it comes right down to it, finding the best brands of probiotics is still a very difficult task. For one thing, there isn’t even an agreement on what a "probiotic" is. That means you can’t trust what you see on labels (here’s a discussion on some of these probiotics challenges in the USA). Probiotics have been tested to see if they match the numbers that their labels claim, and the results have been pretty disappointing. You pick the wrong brand, you’re wasting your money. (For example, check this article on the best brands of probiotics yogurts)

Another issue is that the research of probiotics is still in its infancy. Why do some studies show great benefits, while others show none at all? One of the biggest problems is that different strains of microorganisms are used, in totally different amounts. We’re still comparing apples to oranges.

So here are some things to consider, if you want to find the best brands of probiotics for you. First, I’m not focusing on fermented foods (since these are often triggers for migraineurs), or other health foods (since many of these are new and untested).

Secondly, there are those who shouldn’t be taking probiotics. Particularly those who are seriously ill, or have problems with their immune system for whatever reason. Always check with your doctor.

Recommended probiotics brands

Widely recommended is Nature’s Way Primadophilus Optima. This is a trusted brand with a wide variety of strains. You can read more about this probiotic brand here.

But there is one more consideration. If you’re looking at a long shipping time, or you are unable to keep your capsules refrigerated,

you may lose a lot of the benefits of the probiotics. But there is another choice – "stable" probiotics. Nature’s Way has a stable version of its products, called "Pearls", which do not require refrigeration and are protected from stomach acid (so the maximum amount of microorganisms make it to the gut).

Nature’s Way Primadophilus Reuteri Pearls are available at Vitacost, and also at amazon (though currently a little more at amazon).

In the future, look for more targeted and well researched brands of probiotics for specific conditions. So far, the research has been promising, and more and more migraineurs are considering probiotics as part of their overall treatment.

30 October 2008

Probiotics for IBS – study review

James News, Tips, Treatments 12

We’ve been talking lately about the use of a probiotics supplement for migraine. A probiotics supplement is especially attractive to those who are trying to avoid yogurt, which triggers migraine attacks in some.

One unwelcome visitor that often comes along with migraine is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So a recent review of studies done of patients with IBS taking probiotics supplements caught my eye, because it has implications for both groups (more on the link between IBS and migraine).

Â© Photographer: Eraxion | Agency: Dreamstime.com

In a nutshell, the studies were presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers suggested the following:

Probiotics are safe
Probiotics help lessen symptoms of IBS
Multistrain probiotics are effective
Probiotics were also effective for teenagers and children

Why does this matter to migraine sufferers? Most obviously, because many are also suffering from IBS. But there’s another reason – the evidence is mounting that multistrain probiotics actually do help.

That may seem obvious, but some have argued that by the time the supplement gets into your system (especially into your intestines), you’re lucky if there are any probiotics that are actually still there to help you. There’s no doubt this is true for some brands (more on that in a moment). But a quality probiotic is actually improving your body’s functioning, and that is major news.

Previously I recommended Natureâ€™s Way Primadophilus Optima. I chose this particular brand because
(1) It’s a multistrain probiotic (14 strains, including bifidobacterium infantis)
(2) It seems to be among the best when it comes to getting the maximum amount of probiotic benefit into your body. Many brands of probiotics fall far short of the label’s claims about the amounts of each strain, once you actually go to take the supplement. Buying the wrong brand (this goes for yogurt too, by the way) may mean you’re taking something with very little benefit.

To maximize the benefits, be sure to refrigerate the bottle as soon as it arrives. And don’t buy 243 bottles in advance – stick to 2 or 3.

You can find Primadophilus Optima at Vitacost (above link). Primadophilus Optima is also available on amazon.com.

There is growing evidence that taking care of your "gut" (intestines) can be a powerful way to fight migraine. Finding ways to do this that are safe and effective will continue to help migraineurs make smart decisions.

Read more about the studies at Science Daily: How Effective Are Probiotics In Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

8 August 2008

Probiotics and fermentation

James Treatments 1

After writing about probiotics and their possible benefits to migraineurs in the recent edition of HeadWay, I got a perceptive email from Joanne in the USA. The question was, if probiotics are coming from fermented foods such as yogurt, and fermented foods are a migraine trigger, shouldn’t we actually be trying to avoid probiotics?

The answer is – not exactly. But first, a quick review.

The goal of probiotics is to get good bacteria into your system. These are microorganisms that your body already has, or should have. But often the supply in your body can become depleted. For more, check out the article in last month’s HeadWay. Also helpful is the book Probiotics in Food Safety and Human Health.

Now, probiotics are often, but not always, in fermented products. The one you’re most familiar with is yogurt. Yogurt is a "use with caution" product for migraineurs. Dr. Seymour Diamond, in his well known Low-Tyramine Headache Diet, recommends no more than 1/2 a cup a day (read more about tyramine here).

There are probiotic products, such as milk or juice, that are not fermented.

Then there are supplements containing probiotics. The one I recommended in the newsletter is Nature’s Way Primadophilus Optima. These are vegetarian capsules, which contain other ingredients like magnesium and vitamin C. The goal of Primadophilus Optima is to get the maximum amount of probiotics into your system without the issues caused by fermented products, or the high sugar content of many probiotic products. The capsules also contain a much richer variety of probiotics than yogurt does.

Probiotics have exploded on the market over the past few years. It’s going to take a while for the research to catch up. The science is actually quite complex – it’s not just a matter of swallowing something that will immediately give results. Many products are a complete waste of money.

However, so far it’s looking like good probiotics will benefit you over time – the overall health benefits could be huge, because of the impact a healthy digestive system has on your whole body. This is especially true for migraineurs.

So yes, eat fermented products with caution. And do consider trying a supplement that can give you the benefits of the probiotics without the baggage of sugars and migraine triggers.