The FastDay Forum

I love natural greek yogurt, I eat it whenever I can get it, so that takes care of the probiotics hopefully (?) but how about the prebiotic side, the fibre that feeds the intestinal flora of probiotics?

As usual, I have been reading round the interweb getting confused, so all explanations and information and recommendations gratefully received.
Many thanks m'dears :0)

What do I think about It? Actually, I NEVER think about either of theses products even though I accept that they are healthy I just don't feel the need to go there. Perhaps I should try them, mmmm

Ballerina x

Well, this topic seems not to have floated many boats!

I started making my own greek yogurt a couple years ago and really enjoy it. I buy the dried organism from a commercial supplier and use locally available whole milk to culture in. No additives. As for the health side, I'd like to think it's good for my gut eaten in moderation. It's more of a desert for me than a staple. It does have calories to be mindful of, obviously...

[carieoates]

Goes straight through me, and gives me a lot of pain and discomfort along the way. I've obviously got enough already or I'm very sensitive. I do however know several people who take them regularly.

[carorees]

A while back we discussed gut bacteria and weightloss, I remember that inulin the fibre found in bananas among other things was found to encourage growth of a species of bacteria that was associated with weightloss. See the thread on it from this post onwards: the-5-2-lab-f10/topic3901-15.html#p50100

As far as probiotics go, they've been shown to reduce the duration of antibiotic related diarrhoea but I'm not sure about research into their use in any other setting.

my doctor once told me that if you eat a healthy, balanced diet, you shouldn't need any vitamins/supplements and maybe I'm naive but I think that's true - I'm no use at taking non-essential pills potions anyway - usually give up after a few days!

There's "proper" research out there that demonstrates that intestinal bacterial flora *can* have an impact on, amongst other things, weight loss / gain and propensities thereto. It's a long way (years) from there being a product or practical application though.

However, one of my undergrad profs was *very* interested in the *supposed* beneficial effects of prx-biotics on digestion in general (it was an area that she was actively researching) and opined, at that time (circa 2005), that most of the pro / pre - biotic products were no better than snake oil (my paraphrase). They often had species of bacteria in them that were known to do sweet fanny-all and / or had absolutely no hope of surviving the stomach acid to even get to the gut, and / or (perhaps, worse) were likewise and weren't even the bacteria that they were stated to be on the label.

I'll use natural live yoghurt, but not in some piddly 10 or 20ml quantity. And I don't really expect it to have any major reformatory effect upon my gut. Post-antibiotic use I'd do *at least* 500g (in a oner) to expect any "re-population of the good-guys" effect. But I'm only an ex-microbiologist, so what do I know? And those marketing guys at xxxx bio-yoghurt-sales know waaaaay more than my prof. (who'd been investigating it for years, with no conflicting interests), of course

As far as I can deduce (and I know nothing) eating a sliced banana covered in natural (no added anything) greek yogurt with a few flaked almonds sprinkled on top should do the trick.
Damn.
Gonna have to go and eat that now :0)
No, it's not a fast day until next Monday!

YUM! @Azureblue
Going to try that for lunch!

Just had it for dessert and right good it is too :0)

Oh so I have been doing something right for years 3/7 weekly go to breakfast of ambrosial combo of banana blue berries straws and papaya with low fat but creamy yoghurt sprinkled over my seedy mix and a splash of flax seed oil and a teaspoon of lecithin. All for my gut health I say but don't tell anyone it is like having dessert ... for breakfast now you know why I struggle with 16:8 some days ...

Like @FatDog says...

Plus major source of Calcium Iodine vitamins; B12 B2 + Usefull source of Protein

Being low carb and not drinking milk I use it lots in cooking and of course being veggie it is good source of vitamins...

Eat lots of it if stomach is upset seems to help. No idea if it aids weight loss, would be a bit superfluous here.

I get the organic full fat Greek stuff (should have less lactose), try to make it myself as the Yeo/Rachels stuff is victim of cynical marketing and thus a perceived value tax is levied on the health conscious consumer...

I started taking probiotic supplements twice a day about a week ago and I've noticed a significant improvements in BM and reduction in my feeling bloated. I haven't changed what I eat so can only assume these benefits are because of the pills

I've read that you sometimes need to rest the balance of your gut flora and once that's done, you can stop taking pills and relying on a healthy diet. I'm curious to see if the GI improvement continue, and if they do then I'm going to keep taking the pills - after all why stop if it works?

ps. @gillymary - the recipe sound delicious

I've not read around this area enough, but the impression I've gotten is that eating a variety of fermented foods is important for a variety of microorganisms.

I eat banana and yoghurt when I get leg cramps. Maybe it's good for other things, too.