A reader recently asked me for my recommendations
for probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial
bacteria and yeasts. Good bacteria in our bodies
keep in balance all the bad bacteria.
First, I would like to say that probiotics
are absolutely critical to a healthy digestive system. We must have a balance of good bacteria in
our gut, or we will be prone to a host of health problems. If the bacteria in our digestive tract is out
of balance, our entire body health will also be out of balance. Probiotics cured me from a horrible
antibiotic induced colitis back in 2004.
I plan on sharing more about that experience on this blog in the
future.
Second, I want to make the point that probiotics
were not the solution to my low stomach acid problem (hypochlorhydria). To resolve the acid reflux that I was having due
to the low stomach acid, I had to begin taking a Betaine HCl supplement with
all my meals.
Here are my top recommendations for
probiotics and Betaine HCl:
For superb quality probiotics, my top
recommendation is the Garden of Life Primal Defense product. I’ve used their products
for many years, with great success. Their Primal Defense product cured me
of that antibiotic induced colitis back in 2004. I experienced two
terrible bouts of colitis, lasting 10 days each, within six weeks of each
other. With each instance, I lost 10
pounds. On the first bout of colitis, I went to the doctor and tried their
suggested route of taking more antibiotics (in spite of the fact that an
antibiotic had been the reason for my problem) and eating yogurt. Six weeks later, when the colitis returned as
bad as the first time, I resolved to try a different way. Obviously, what the doctor had prescribed had
not worked, and I despised the side effects of the antibiotic I had been previously
given. I searched my condition (antibiotic
induced colitis and Clostridium difficile bacteria) on the internet along with
possible solutions and discovered the Garden of Life Primal Defense product as
a probable solution. Immediately, I ordered
it, and the day it arrived and I began taking it, the colitis began to go away. I’ve never had another bout of colitis
again. I still use Primal Defense
today. The Garden of Life supplements can be purchased at a local natural
or health food store or ordered online for a very reasonable cost at the Vitacost online site.
For a superb Betaine HCl supplement, I
recommend the Bluebonnet Nutrition brand which is of the highest
quality and is actually made from beets. This brand provides a higher
dose of Betaine and also includes Pepsin, which is another digestive aid. I was using the TwinLabs brand for years until
I noticed TwinLabs was no longer producing the HCl from actual beets and
instead making a synthetic version. The Bluebonnet brand was recently out
of stock from the manufacturer, and while I waited to get more, I went back to
using the TwinLabs brand. I noticed that
the TwinLabs Betaine tended to make my stomach hurt and cramp. Therefore, I plan on staying away from it
altogether in the future. The
Bluebonnet brand is more expensive, but I believe it is worth it! I have to take too many of these pills every
day and cannot afford a “cheap” synthetic version. It is critical I have a quality product. I get the best deals for the Bluebonnet
Nutrition Betaine HCl by purchasing from House of Nutrition online site .
I consider Garden of Life Primal Defense,
Bluebonnet Betaine HCl, and Garden of Life Q-Zyme to be extremely important daily
supplements for a healthy digestive system.
I believe this due to my personal experiences.
