Foods for bad guts to restore good bacteria and ahem, you know...

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
20,039
For the past 20 years I've battled irritable bowel syndrome. For years my affliction went from one extreme to the other. I started taking acidophilus, and lost about fifty pounds. Now, taking fluid pills for fluid in my legs, I will very easily become dehydrated. Low end pain pills for a root canal brought it to the other extreme, which I will not go into. I'm looking for foods, for example, I love kale, spinach, etc, that will help me get some balance in my life. I need to get back into oatmeal too. Obviously, cut out all of the greasy foods. One of my friends told me she eats kim chee every day. I tried kim chee at a Korean restaurant and thought I was going to be ill. I love bulgogi, beef or chicken, and can definitely go overboard on it, but not kim chee. She said it depends on how it's made.

Any ideas on good foods to maintain a good stomach balance of good bacteria? I think I've hit my limit with acidophilus.
 
Be careful with the amount of kale, spinach, turnip greens, as too much WILL cause kidney stones. I am speaking from experience, and my Urologist & Nephrologist have confirmed this. Do you eat any yogurt? Yogurt WILL help you. There are yogurts with probiotics in it, that can help you regulate.Or find a Probiotic that you can take. I know it isn't much.
 
I would suggest you start taking a regular dose of probiotics that are available from many of the nutrition stores since it seems there is an imbalance and see you you notice any improvement. Yogurt is good if you like it, but I suspect you need "more".
 
I've been taking Dr. Ohira's probiotics for the last 3 months and its made me feel a whole lot better.
I get them from Amazon, saves a lot of $$ vs. the local health food stores.

Hope you find something that makes you feel better!
 
Probiotics are good. But let me also suggest that you go off all lactose and gluten for a month and see how your system reacts. You may find that you have an intolerance to one or both.
I hope that you feel better soon.....:)
Steven
 
I think there's a pill the doctor can give you made from healthy terds. Gross but true.
 
Probiotics are what you should take if you are also taking anti-biotics.
Last year there was a huge amount of research about the importance of good guy bacteria in the gut especially in small children. Specific types and total amounts are required or they WILL develop immune system problems !
A year ago they also found a direct connection between the brain and the immune system !!!
Cut out the sugar and junk food and get good eating habits you'll feel much better !
 
Last year my gut got hammered by antibiotics and I couldn't get back to feeling ok I tried a yogurt drink/ pro biotic called Kefir and was back to normal in a day or so. :thumbup:
 
If you take antiboitics regularly, they totally ruin your intestinal balance. Last time I went to the doctors for a developing ear infection, the doctor perscribed my usual antibiotics. He rotates between a couple different ones. This is a pretty regular thing for me unfortunately. Anyway, I didn't fill the perscription and things seemed to start to clear up in a few days versus worsening development.

Get the probiotics. I know they are expensive and there are choices to be made on the type which impacts cost a great deal. I like the big river reference above to save some money.
 
People prone to ear infection can benefit from an ear flush consisting of half 99% rubbing alcohol and half white vinegar. This also works well for swimmers ear.
 
I have had IBS as well as a hiatal hernia (stomach pushes up into diaphragm causing pain). Over time, I have found the following things help, some of which you may already be aware of or may find can help you if you have not tried them.

Minimize your alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine intake. I drink coffee, but do not smoke or drink at all. Limit spicy foods as well.

Raw veggies are fine in moderation; too much will cause stomach issues because they are hard to digest. Cooked is better from a sensitive stomach's perspective. As far as what veggies you do eat, stay away from "gas-causing" veggies, some of which you may be surprised to find out that they can cause a lot of gas. Be aware that dairy products can also cause gas. You may also be lactose intolerant.

For more fiber, try powdered Metamucil once or twice daily. It basically tastes like Tang and really isn't too bad at all.

I also will have quinoa instead of rice or beans and try to watch my gluten intake, which isn't really all that hard to do. Your IBS might be because you are a celiac and don't know it, though I suspect that you have probably already been tested for that, maybe more than once.

To put it in perspective, I have had IBS "flare ups" in my life that have been so bad that they have basically immobilized me. It was very difficult to stand up (and I don't mean stand up straight--that was not really possible) and moving quickly was out of the question. I've had x-rays, blood tests, and ultra sounds with the docs trying to figure out what was wrong. It always boiled down to IBS, which I took to be the catch-all diagnosis for "we don't know what the hell is ailing you". I took Metamucil for a handful of years and after a while was able to taper off of it without having a recurrence of IBS.

Today, I have very few issues with my stomach, thankfully. I am on no meds for it at all. I try to watch my diet, eat at the same time every day (and not eat at all between 9pm and 5am), and get a little exercise here and there. With ongoing minimal care, at least for me, my IBS has pretty much completely disappeared.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top