[Lane CT]

Hi everyone -

I've been struggling with bouts of IBS lately. It's not an ongoing, every-single-day issue for me like it is for some of you, but when it's bad, it's awful. Adding to it, I'm lactose intolerant. Severely - if I accidentally have anything with lactose in it, in about an hour or two I may not even be able to make it to the bathroom - no cramps, no noises, no warning. Not sure which is worse - IBS or the lactose issue.

ANYWAY... I somehow stumbled on some information about Kefir. Which, if you don't know about it (I didn't, but I know I see it everywhere), is a naturally occurring bacteria that you can actually grow yourself, add some fruit and milk to, and drink. It's extraordinarily good for your colon health. It kills gas, stops constipation and diarrhea, can help ward off stomach viruses, and basically recolonizes your intestines with tons of good bacteria that continue to bloom. Now, supposedly the home-grown is even better than the store varieties, but I'm not sure I'm the grow-bacteria-on-my-counter type of person. However, it's a huge movement and people share grains and whatnot to get other people going. But I've read that in ready-to-drink brands, Lifeway is one of the absolute best.

Here is information about studies regarding IBS and kefir: http://nationalkefir...abid=72&mid=459

Since I have the lactose issue, I found a company called Green Valley Lactose Free Organics. I ran over to Whole Foods and got some to try - I had been having really bad bloating, gas and random BM's for almost two weeks. It was getting to that depression phase. So the first day, I drank two ounces in the morning, and two ounces at night (it is recommended to drink 8 oz a day). I continued to have gas. Next day, gas but no rumblings. Third morning I woke up with no stomach ache, no gas, nothing. I've worked up to about six ounces a day. I have had - so sorry to expound - solid, normal b.m.s with no cramping or urgency before hand. It's actually strange to experience a feeling that normal, not IBS people have. Now I'm on week two and things are still going well. I have a lot of hope, not that I have found a miracle cure, but that I have found something that may alleviate the symptoms that we all know so well. Maybe it's just a mind-over-matter placebo, but hey.

I took this from Kefir.net:

***EDIT*** Removed Copyrighted material


From midvalleyu.com:

***EDIT*** Removed Copyrighted material

Quote

Using copyrighted material is against our Terms of Service. I would just encourage people to visit those sites for more info.instead.

If it can help anyone, wonderful. And if anyone has tried it with any success, or has had a bad experience, I would still love to hear about it.

Thanks!

[Korga]

I agree with you that Kefir is an excellent source of probiotics. For those who do not tolerate milk or dairy, here are instructions for making Coconut Kefir; it is delicious. You will need to buy Kefir starter grains online.

Coconut Kefir
This makes a thick yogurt=like custard.

If you have fresh coconut available, puree the meat and the water togeather until it is smooth.
Otherwise use a comercial coconut milk.

Combine the puree and the kefir, cover with a cloth and let stand overnight at room temperature.

Transfer to jars and move to the fridge.

After 2-3 days it will thicken into custard and should be eaten.

[BQ]

Thanks for sharing Lane! Sorry about the editing but it is against our TOS to reprint that info here. I always just point people to the site and leave it at that.

[Lane CT]

BQ, on 27 January 2012 - 07:43 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing Lane! Sorry about the editing but it is against our TOS to reprint that info here. I always just point people to the site and leave it at that.

Sorry about that! It was a bit long-winded, too.

[Lane CT]

Korga, do you eat/drink kefir on a regular basis? And do you suffer from IBS?

[XXXBerto55]

There is no website : midvalleyu.com

It appears Fresh Market carries some Green Valley products, but not the Kefir product (I just came from there).

[Lane CT]

XXXBerto -

I think that perhaps that info was within another article, and maybe they were citing that as a source, perhaps. At any rate, if you are not lactose intolerant, you have a lot of other options as far as stores and varieties of kefir.

[XXXBerto55]

Lane CT, on 29 January 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

XXXBerto -

I think that perhaps that info was within another article, and maybe they were citing that as a source, perhaps. At any rate, if you are not lactose intolerant, you have a lot of other options as far as stores and varieties of kefir.

Yeah I bought some lifeway and it apparently is readily available. I did read somewhere that home grown is the best but I don't have time for that. I am not sure that I am lactose intolerant but am on FODMAP so would like to stay as strict to that as possible. The lifeway brand says its 99% lactose free.

[Lane CT]

Right, because the kefir actually consumes the lactose in the milk. I'm feeling (hopefully not falsely) confident that in a month or so I can switch from lactose free to regular kefir. My stomach still feels the same - I used to wake up with stomach aches, have D usually once in the morning and then be very strict about my diet, and still I would get all the symptoms we all know so well. Now, I just maybe feel a slight pressure to go and have a regular, formed BM. Again, I'm into week three so it's not anything I can say with confidence, but I haven't taken an Immodium in all this time. Maybe I have some pathogens in my stomach, or yeast, etc., that cause the IBS that the kefir is killing. All my tests always come back "normal" at the doctors. Just inflammation that they can't tell me the cause of.

[Korga]

Lane, I have had IBS for 6 years. I cannot tolerate dairy at all, or canned coconut milk, or most Probiotics, but I seem to tolerate the fresh coconut and the Kefir culture. I make this fresh Coconut kefir occasionally as a treat. It is delicious.

[Trudyg]

I've been looking into Kefir, too. As a matter of fact, I just ordered some grains but won't get them for 3 weeks or so. My question, though, is does it produce a laxative effect? Whenever I hear how good something is for IBS, it usually means it gets you going. I'll probably feed it to family, so it won't be wasted, but I want to go slow with something that may make the D worse.

[Lane CT]

Trudyg, on 02 February 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

I've been looking into Kefir, too. As a matter of fact, I just ordered some grains but won't get them for 3 weeks or so. My question, though, is does it produce a laxative effect? Whenever I hear how good something is for IBS, it usually means it gets you going. I'll probably feed it to family, so it won't be wasted, but I want to go slow with something that may make the D worse.

Well, that has not been my experience with the kefir. The problem was that I had gas and D several times a day usually, whenever I was having an IBS episode. My experience with the kefir was: gas the first few days, then that dissipated, and then my stomach just seemed to correct itself. I drank maybe 2 oz. in the morning and 2 oz. at night at first. It's been several weeks now and I'm probably up to 8 oz a day - I still divide it between morning and night. My BMs are "normal" and I haven't experienced cramping, D, stomach aches or gas since the third day.

The homemade version is supposedly even better and contains even more powerful good bacteria. The information I've read states that it corrects constipation and D. But it does not have a laxative effect on me. Thankfully - that's the last thing I need! Good luck!

[Trudyg]

I did some more research yesterday and learned this: When you eat carbs, the probiotics digest them (sugars) and emit gas, so you get gassy. If eating low-carb, they still digest it but you get less gas because of the lower sugars. These probiotics attach the entire length of the digestive system, so gas is produced the whole time. Some people report smelly farts the first week or so, then it diminishes as they adapt. As with anything you add, go slowly and do only one item at a time so you'll know what causes the reaction.

[Lane CT]

Trudyg, on 03 February 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

I did some more research yesterday and learned this: When you eat carbs, the probiotics digest them (sugars) and emit gas, so you get gassy. If eating low-carb, they still digest it but you get less gas because of the lower sugars. These probiotics attach the entire length of the digestive system, so gas is produced the whole time. Some people report smelly farts the first week or so, then it diminishes as they adapt. As with anything you add, go slowly and do only one item at a time so you'll know what causes the reaction.

Thanks for the info!!

[maitland]

Trudyg, on 02 February 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

I've been looking into Kefir, too. As a matter of fact, I just ordered some grains but won't get them for 3 weeks or so. My question, though, is does it produce a laxative effect? Whenever I hear how good something is for IBS, it usually means it gets you going. I'll probably feed it to family, so it won't be wasted, but I want to go slow with something that may make the D worse.

hi trudyg just buy kefir.... i went with just plain to start, its usually with the yogurt products in all the grocery stores i just never noticed before...it's widely available in health food stores also....i started with just a tablespoon in the morning and a tablespoon at night...will work my way up... so far no problems but i would recommend reduce the sugar and fruits intake to give this stuff a fair chance. the container says one tablespoon of kefir contains 5 billion of good bacteria.

[mcwifey]

Has anyone trued the Yorktest Food Scan Program? I got a pamphlet from my Dr. & my medical will cover 80% of $600. Unfortunately, the test is $799 & must be paid in full upfront. But, it tests 131 IBS markers. Sounds intriguing!!!

[mcwifey]

Has anyone trued the Yorktest Food Scan Program? I got a pamphlet from my Dr. & my medical will cover 80% of $600. Unfortunately, the test is $799 & must be paid in full upfront. But, it tests 131 IBS markers. Sounds intriguing!!!

[Lane CT]

What is a Yorktest Food Scan Program?

[mcwifey]

It's based on naturopathic principles. They send you the kit, you give them a drop of blood, they process it & are able to tell you what most likely are your triggers. You work with the Naturopath & Dietician to map out a symptom free life. I can't wait!!!

[XXXBerto55]

mcwifey, on 10 February 2012 - 02:30 AM, said:

It's based on naturopathic principles. They send you the kit, you give them a drop of blood, they process it & are able to tell you what most likely are your triggers. You work with the Naturopath & Dietician to map out a symptom free life. I can't wait!!!

Balderdash.....most likely it will show you to be sensitive to lots of things. Blood tests of this sort show so many false positives a lot of doctors ignore them. I'd save your money (p.s. You hijacked this thread)