Forums: September 2011 Kickstart Forum: Probiotics?
Created on: 10/10/11 02:30 PM Views: 563 Replies: 2
sis11 Joined: 08/17/11 Posts: 30	Probiotics? Posted Monday, October 10, 2011 at 2:30 PM Posted earlier but the thread didn't make it up for some reason? A family member has been told by her doctor to take probiotics -- she's now eating a plant-based diet and looking for vegan probiotics. She's asked for advice on what to take or eat. I looked on the web and it seemed a bit confusing and marketing-oriented. If anyone up here knows websites or other info, I'd really appreciate it. (Susan, do you have anything to say on this subject? Would be very grateful!) Here's what my relative's son wrote, and it seems good as far as I know, but I can't verify it for sure: Probiotics occur in cultured (of which "fermented" is one kind) foods. As these are _LIVE_ cultures, they cannot be cooked -- it kills the probiotics. I believe "no cooking" includes "pasteurization," though I _think_ pasteurized yogurt gets re-innoculated with probiotic strains. I presume the same could be (and is) done with other products, but my preliminary researches haven't yet found those products. Given that these are live/cultured foods, shoppers usually get them out of the refrigerated section. There are also supplements (pills, and liquids that are supposedly better than the pills (which I don't doubt -- I wonder that shelf-stable probiotic pills are even POSSIBLE!) ) that can be taken, just like vitamins and other supplements. I presume that getting probiotics from foods (rather than supplements) is a superior way to get their value, as it is with most nutritients. In addition to various dairy products (the classic is yogurt & similar), you can probiotics from: - Most soy/almond/etc yogurts - Many soy/almond/etc cheeses - Sauerkraut, kimchee, etc. - Apple cider (raw/unpasteurized) * - Miso * - Some juices and salad-dressings are probiotic; these tend to be expensive specialty products. * Vinegar and Miso are "ingredients" but you cannot "cook" with them: as noted above, it kills the probiotic cultures. These must be added AFTER removing from heat. many thanks! Sarah Animals-Planet-Health
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Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1191	RE: Probiotics? Posted Monday, October 10, 2011 at 5:19 PM Assuming your family member has been told to consume probiotics for some medical reason? By moving to a vegan diet, her healthy gut flora are likely to flourish, as plant foods create a conducive environment for happy bacteria. But yes, there are plenty of vegan probiotic products she can purchase at the health food store. I don't think consuming them through foods (such as supplemented yogurts, soy or otherwise) is anymore valuable than the supplement itself. In fact, I think the calories found in yogurts are a waste (no fiber, lots of sugar). Type of probiotics purchased depends on what the medical problem is requiring the supplement. And they need not be refrigerated necessarily, depending on how they are processed and packaged. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
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sis11 Joined: 08/17/11 Posts: 30	RE: Probiotics? Posted Monday, October 10, 2011 at 5:26 PM Thank you, Susan! She has a number of different conditions, but we're all hoping that the move to a plant-based diet will help with at least some of them. Really appreciate getting information I can trust. thanks again, Sarah Animals-Planet-Health
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