On TV last night: Probiotics fight depression and anxiety. Get pills or eat yogurt.

[applegrove]

[county worker]

1. What are you saying here?

Pills and yogurt have the same effect on depression and anxiety?

[applegrove]

2. probiotics reduce depression and anxiety. You can get probiotic pills or get probiotic bacteria

in your yogurt.

[MineralMan]

3. Where on TV? Is there some link you can offer that

has this information? Your post is rather cryptic.

Words are really cheap. You can use as many as you like.

[applegrove]

4. It was either CNN or CTV (Canada) that had the story. I'll look for a link.

[MineralMan]

5. OK. While you're looking, maybe you can find a link

to some sort of research that demonstrates this effect, too. I tried, and only found links to naturopathic health sites full of personal accounts, but no research.

[applegrove]

11. The research was done at U of T. They are talking about chronic fatigue and

anxiety but in the news on TV they mentioned depression in the lead up to the story. Anxiety is related to depression. Anyway the link is below.

[WePurrsevere]

8. This may be the basic story from CTV...

They look like they're basically the same. Figured I'd post both in case one comes up easier then the other.

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2F20090406%2Fprobiotics_anxiety_090406

http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090406/probiotics_anxiety_090406/20090406/?hub=EdmontonHome

The study was geared towards those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but if it works for them it may help others.

[applegrove]

7. I did a search on both the CTV and CNN site and didn't get a hit. I guess you'll just have to wait

until it makes it into the news again. If I had to guess I would say it was on CTV News last night. Sorry my post sounded cryptic. I didn't mean it too. It is just that I suffer from depression and welcome anything that will help.

[MineralMan]

10. OK, I found what was probably the story.

A study showed a decrease in anxiety among a small sample of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090406/probiotics_anxiety_090406/20090406?hub=CTVNewsAt11

It was on CTV.

That's interesting, of course, but hardly a general study on probiotics with regard to depression and anxiety. It's a very limited study, related only to people with CFS.

[applegrove]

9. Here is the link.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090406/probiotics_anxiety_090406/20090406?hub=Health

[MineralMan]

12. I found it, too. See my post above in reply to your previous message.

[MineralMan]

14. I just want to point out that the information in the original

post was based on a small study of the effects of probiotics on anxiety in a few patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I had nothing to do with general effectiveness on anxiety and depression.

The problem with such posts is that they are so non-specific as to be virtually useless. Indeed, in this case, there was research that could have been mentioned, but it's a very, very limited study and does not actually indicate any general relief of anxiety and depression except for anxiety connected with CFS.

More care should be taken in posting such things, and links should always be provided to actual information.

[applegrove]

19. I'll remember that for the next time I post. I'll search the link first. Still

I'm planning on buying probiotic pills to see if they help my depression.

[truedelphi]

6. probiotics also get rid of diverticulitis.

You can undergo the knife or eat lots of probiotics, while making sure that your diet is more or less alkaline (No caffeine red meat or lots of sugar for the first two weeks till the probiotics establish themselves.)

[county worker]

13. Can you explain what probiotics are and how they work?

[truedelphi]

15. Probiotics (aka Acidolphilus) are the healthy bacteria that infest our gut and gut linings.

And since when you ferment milk, under proper conditions, you get yogurt that contains a ga-zillion of these little buggers, you can go eating probiotic rich yogurt or obtaining the probiotics in a jar (like in a capsule) to replenish your own store of probiotics. (The brand I like is Jarrow's Acidophilus, and it is in the freezer section of the health food store.)

The reason that people need to consume probiotics is because high stress levels, and/or antibiotics and anesthetics, and a very acidic diet all contribute to killing the little buggers off. Once they are depleted, our food is not digested properly.

Without probiotics, We end up with diverticulitis, which is the nasty condition wherein the rotting, undigested food products begin to form little pockets of crap in our gut. Then we start feeling very ill, even after doing something as minor as eating part of a normal meal.

[county worker]

16. Are they in cheese too?

[truedelphi]

17. Nope not really. There are probably remnants of them in cheese, but for a person to have any benefit

You need the yogurt or the Stuff in a jar.

[Mamacrat]

18. Fatigue leads to depression.

Physical fatigue leads people to make negative changes in their lives which can lead to depression. Our son eats a ton of yogurt and yogurt drinks, and we gave him probiotics from a capsule when he had to take an antibiotic. (We avoid antibiotics unless necessary.) He's never gotten sick all the time like a lot of children do. Also, Too much sugar, or yeast and antibiotics are some of the things that can kill off the good bacteria. Taking a probiotic in those cases can be of some help.

[grasswire]

20. I assume you are checking the sugar content...

...of the yogurt your child loves. Some of it is full of sugar. Yogurt's a great thing for kids!

[Mamacrat]

24. Too much sugar.

Unfortunately, even the best we've found (Stoneyfield) has too much sugar for my liking. It is at least sugar and not high fructose corn syrup and has more protein that other brands with more hfcs than actual yogurt. He does not eat sweets otherwise, fortunately.

[grasswire]

32. Is there a Trader Joe's near you?

They have some varieties of greek yogurt that are delicious, and much lower in sugar. Blueberry, honey, strawberry, peach, and fig. They are really, really good. The 0 fat version is amazingly creamy and delicious, even.

[Mamacrat]

35. Trader Joes

We don't have one. Wish we did.

[varkam]

21. Could be the other way around.

Could be that depression makes people feel fatigued.

[cosmik debris]

23. It's not rocket science

Constipation causes fatigue and depression.

Probiotics cure constipation.

Therefore probiotics cure fatigue and depression.

Once again the multi-billion dollar supplement industry is trying to sell laxatives as a cure-all. That's been going on for centuries.

Ho-Hum...yawn.

[Quantess]

42. Diarrhea depletes probiotics as well.

Those laxatives had better not work too well.

[cosmik debris]

45. The theory seems to be

That you must continually replenish your intestinal flora at a burdensome expense.

In fact, if you maintain a healthy digestive system, you don't need to add probiotics except in cases of an ecological disaster in your gut. They will reproduce quite nicely by themselves when given an opportunity.

But the multi-billion dollar supplement industry is trying to sell you more and more of something most of us don't need at all.

[Mamacrat]

25. Definitely!

Definitely, depression causes fatigue, but physical problems, including fatigue from other illnesses, can cause depression.

[truedelphi]

29. MSG is a no-no for me. I get absolutely loony with depression if

Exposed. It has been a major awakening for me - that so much of even stuff sold as "organic" has MSG. I have really come around to the notion that I need to eat things that are not in boxes, cans or jars.

Also the manufacturers do not put the terms "MSG" or monosodium glutamate on the package. They refer to it as "high fructose sugar" and "spice" and "natural Flavoring"

Usually I can tell if it is in a product because it ups the craving factor by about a hundred fold.

[uppityperson]

30. I don't think "high fructose sugar" is msg since that is not a sugar at all.

Spice and natural flavoring are ways of sneaking it in, but not high fructose sugar.

[truedelphi]

31. The expert that I talked to about this (Dr Betty Martini) said that the

MSG is OFTEN added to the high fructose sweetener. So technically you are right - it doesn't have to be there. But most manufacturers are now doing that. One reason that they add the MSG to various things is so you will consume more of it. If you run a fast food chicken emporium, and don't put MSG in your chicken, and I run almost the same place but across the street, and DO add the MSG, people will come to my store and not yours.

It makes the food "Tastier."

[Mamacrat]

34. Natural Flavoring

I love how companies get away with who knows what by using the term natural flavorings. I though MSG had to be labeled specifically, though?

[truedelphi]

37. They also use the "terms" of

Hydrolised (hydrolized?) wheat protein, or tapiocca protein or other protein, as code for MSG.

Soem say that calcium caseinate and yeast extract probably ahve teh MSG added to it.

[uppityperson]

22. "Physical fatigue leads people to make negative changes in their lives which can lead to depression"

wtf? Are you seriously saying that being physically active can "lead people to make negative changes in their lives which can lead to depression? So, don't work out, and you won't become depressed? If you work your body to get fatigued, then you will get depressed? Depression stems from "negative changes" someone makes in their lives?

Please clarify.

[Mamacrat]

26. Clarification

Physical fatigue can cause people to make negative changes (e.g. not eating right, increasing clutter in the home, not engaging in their normal social interactions) which can lead to depression. Someone too tired to keep up with their normal routine can become depressed from those negative changes in their life.

As far as physical fatigue from exericse, that's not what this thread is about. Fatigue related to illness was implied in my post, I thought, because of the original topic of the thread.

[uppityperson]

28. Ah, you are talking about small "d" depression, not clinical depression

Situational depression vs clinical depression. Thank you for the clarification

[Mamacrat]

33. Small D Depression

I don't know what small D Depression. If you mean just feeling bad for less than the time required for a clinical diagnosis, that's not what I mean. People who are fatigued for any number of reasons (e.g. heart attack) can fall into real depression, not just a "funk."

[Mamacrat]

27. Probiotics in cottage cheese.

I had probiotics in my cottage cheese this morning. Breakstone, I think it was. If you like it that's a good food for not too many calories and good protein, which is important to me due to being pre-diabetic. Just another food to add probiotics.

[applegrove]

36. Yup. I eat probiotic yogurt anyhow. But yeah I love good intel like this.

[csibona]

38. Is all yogurt probiotic

How do you even know?

[Mamacrat]

39. I'm not sure.

I'm not sure if all yogurt has probiotics, although I think it does. To be sure I think you have to look for certain types of live bacteria. I found a web site with a lot of information on probiotics: http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/probiotic-food3.asp

[MichellesBFF]

40. Isn't

Kombucha a good source of probiotics?

[applegrove]

41. I've been eating activia yougurt for years. I hope it is probiotic.

[Quantess]

43. Have you tried St. Johns Wort?

What also helps for me is regular (daily if possible) exercise and excellent nutrition.

There are foods that I have learned the hard way to avoid: processed white flour (absolutely no doughnuts, pastries, or pancakes) and minimal amounts of heavy or greasy food. Doughnuts and pancakes make me feel horrible and sad for hours.

St John's Wort is an effective herbal treatment for depression.

[wuvuj]

44. Don't waste your $ on some types of probiotics...

There are only 2 types that really work...encapsulated live bacteria that get to the intestines unharmed by stomach acid...or spore types where the spores can withstand stomach acid and develop in the gut. Yogurt and so forth aren't really reliable ways to replenish probiotics.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/jan2009_Optimize-Digestive-Health_01.htm

[cosmik debris]

46. That's just an advertisement for their product.

It is a sales pitch similar to what a shady used car salesman might tell you.

[wuvuj]

47. With 35 references?

They do research their products. You could buy the other type that gets thru the stomach in a special cap. Or you could buy some expensive kinds that won't do much good for you...I've tried them.

I only posted the link due to the article and references.

A little knowledge goes a short way....I see this kind of response a lot of times on the web....makes me wonder what other kinds of info I miss due to this kind of "moral rectitude". I doubted that the link would even be left in the post.

[uppityperson]

48. Check where most of the references are from.

Just because there are "35 references", that doesn't mean anything. Esp if a majority of the references are from 1 or 2 places.

Questioning an ad is "moral rectitude"? Huh

[wuvuj]

51. 35 references?

You are functioning like a Repug...you just post inaccurate info and hope it sticks with the brainless? Looks like 35...almost all different...sources...various journals and research papers.

"moral rectitude"? Just a phrase I used to signify the use of a kind of ASSUMED ethical or moral standard to criticize something. I see this on the web a lot...not sure what it might really be called.

Sometimes the best source for information might include some info about a product....I could do a big overall research thing on probiotics...but that's what Google is for.

................................

References

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6. Pirlich M, Lochs H. Nutrition in the elderly. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2001 Dec;15(6):869-84.

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11. Available at: http://www.newcenturyhealthpublishers.com/probiotics_and_prebiotics/about/pdf/3-10.pdf. Accessed October 31, 2008.

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17. Suarez F, Levitt MD, Adshead J, Barkin JS. Pancreatic supplements reduce symptomatic response of healthy subjects to a high fat meal. Dig Dis Sci. 1999 Jul;44(7):1317-21.

18. Nouza K. Systemic enzyme therapy in diseases of the vascular system. Bratisl Lek Listy. 1995 Oct;96(10):566-9.

19. Stauder G. Pharmacological effects of oral enzyme combinations. Cas Lek Cesk. 1995 Oct 4;134(19):620-4.

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21. Available at: www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004827.html. Accessed October 29, 2008.

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28. Patel MA, Ou MS, Harbrucker R, et al. Isolation and characterization of acid-tolerant, thermophilic bacteria for effective fermentation of biomass-derived sugars to lactic acid. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 May;72(5):3228-35.

29. Mohan JC, Arora R, Khalilullah M. Preliminary observations on effect of Lactobacillus sporogenes on serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. Indian J Med Res. 1990 Dec;92:431-2.

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34. Lamberson K, Hill L. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Arthritis Advantage™ in patients with osteoarthritis. Ganeden Biotech (Data on file). 2006. Submitted for publication.

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[uppityperson]

52. Replying with insults doesn't get you many converts. eom

"You are functioning like a Repug...you just post inaccurate info and hope it sticks with the brainless?"

[wuvuj]

56. Not trying to convert anyone...

...just posting what I thought was useful info. Do I care if any particular person takes supplements or not? Not really...because that decision is up to that person to decide.

What I don't like is what I see as misinformation...because that keeps people from getting an interest in something that might help them...or might be a waste of money if not approached right.

I take some supplements...all of which are based on what I think is good research as far as their possible benefits.

I avoid Big Pharma like the plague it is.

[InkAddict]

54. This company's philosophies impressed me. Here's more references

in praise of probiotics: http://www.stonyfield.com//Wellness/ProbioticFAQs.cfm

Maybe contain duplicates.

[Why Syzygy]

49. Life Extension Foundation

is one of the favorite targets around here.
They are an excellent resource. That's probably why the skeptics hate them so.

[wuvuj]

50. The skeptics can...

...just blow it out their rears....which is what happens when you don't use probiotics? :bounce:

As Lefty always said....ignorance is it's own reward.

[Why Syzygy]

53. The Feds

have been after LEF for more than a decade.
IF they were doing anything illegal, they would not still survive.

I am all for improved standards in the 'natural' supplement/treatment field. However, our current FDA based system is not equipped for it, and never will be. Until a new system is created, the burden falls on the consumers.

[InkAddict]

55. Comprehensive newsletter re supplements, etc...

http://www.qualitycounts.com/newsletter

[wuvuj]

57. Good link...thanks...

....

[Sanity Claws]

58. Interesting

I had never heard this before reading this thread. Another good reason to eat yogurt with active cultures.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

59. My bil has been taking a formula with 10 strains containing

70 billion viable organisms per serving if I understand correctly.

http://www6.netrition.com/flora_udos_super_bifido_probiotic.html

[wuvuj]

60. Article...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/18/Probiotics-The-Case-for-Healthy-Bowels.aspx


Chances are you have digestive issues. And you're not alone. According to recent studies conducted by the Dannon Company in 2007, nearly 90 percent of Americans deal with occasional problems with digestion.1 Seventy percent of women say digestive concerns negatively impact their lives every single day.

Digestive concerns aren't a fun topic of conversation. In fact, many people have trouble talking to their own doctor about their concerns. Others suffer in silent embarrassment, worry and discomfort over the rumbling and gurgling -- the cramps, bloating and gas. The constipation. Or diarrhea.

The fact is that if your digestive tract isn't operating efficiently, you have more to worry about than just your colon. When you carry around too few friendly bacteria and an overabundance of the bad stuff, your body doesn't make use of all the nutrients you're feeding it.

Your healthy diet won't matter, nor will the nutritional supplements you take. If your digestive system isn't operating efficiently, you aren't getting the full benefit of your good nutritional habits. Not only is your health at risk, but you're throwing money away on high-quality food and nutritional supplements that your body can't make use of.