I see the probiotics offered by NAP are formulated by blood type. Is there data on the ratios of different microbe strains in the guts of healthy and diseased individuals and if so, is this information easily accessible?

I take Polyflora A at night before bed (on an empty stomach). Two capsules help me to be regular (if you know what I mean ). Without them I am only regular when I take high doses of magnesium.

I can just swear on Polyflora A as a wonderful and poweful probiotic.
I ate  some regular whe past and I am celiac and had a snack of a fruit jelly with nasty gums. I had the symtoms of a violent colitis and I could not have relief for some hours, when I took the few caps of Polyflora. the morning after I was doing far better and the evening I felt all OK. As I were in cruise it was really nice !
I can not say that the other probiotics are unuseful, but this was magic !
I use yoghurt with bifidus (mostly soy yoghurt) recommended for As daily.
Maria Giovanna

Chris, use the search feature on home page, adding the name of the different strains......wiki might have the necessary info you are looking for....

Here is a Japanese study stating relationships found between different probiotic strains and ABO blood type. Some strains were identified as harmful to specific BT's but it doesn't show the ratio you are looking for...

http://adsa.asas.org/meetings/2007/abstracts/0425.PDF

Search for "ABO" inside the document.

I seem to have a problem with probiotic supplements. No problem with yogurt or kefir. The supplements make the pain in my joints in my hands flare for some reason..OMG, you should have seen me after taking Garden of Life's Primal Defense!    With the soil organisms! I broke out in red spots all around my eyes and I still have a blotch from it that won't go away! I don't know what to do about it. I stopped the Primal Defense as soon as I saw the rash appear. The little red spots cleared up within a couple of days. I think I took it in March.

http://www.google.com/custom?q.....itesearch=dadamo.com

keep feeding the search button......

Quoted from Mayflowers

OMG, you should have seen me after taking Garden of Life's Primal Defense!    With the soil organisms! I broke out in red spots all around my eyes and I still have a blotch from it that won't go away!

Wow, Mayflours, that's scary!

I had to stop taking probiotics after a stool test showed some problems.  Apparently some probiotics can feed the bad bacteria as well as the good.  If you're in balance, then they're great, but it did serve as a bit of a wake up call that you can't just take them and expect great resuls.

I'll find the report tonight to give the name of the bacteria, but the interesting part was that you can still take pre-biotics as they truly do only feed the good bugs.

Quoted from Rebecca_C

I had to stop taking probiotics after a stool test showed some problems.  Apparently some probiotics can feed the bad bacteria as well as the good.  If you're in balance, then they're great, but it did serve as a bit of a wake up call that you can't just take them and expect great resuls.
I'll find the report tonight to give the name of the bacteria, but the interesting part was that you can still take pre-biotics as they truly do only feed the good bugs.

That is worrying. What are pre-biotics?

Quoted from Rebecca_C

Apparently some probiotics can feed the bad bacteria as well as the good.

Huh?   Yeah, I'd like to know more about that too.  I mean, I've been taking probiotics of one sort or another since I was like 5.  My mother had me taking them because she recognized my yeast infections for what they were and I've taken them off and on ever since.  The results were minimal until I got on Dr. D's kind.  They're the first to really do anything major.

Quoted from Curious

What are pre-biotics?

http://nutrition.about.com/od/therapeuticnutrition1/p/pro_prebiotics.htm

as I understand, it works hand in hand w/ a probiotic......helping one to get the most out of them

http://www.dadamo.com/napharm/store3/template2/ara.htm
on pre biotics

That is a great link - thanks IB!

Quoted from Curious

That is a great link - thanks IB!

you're welcome.  

OK, sorry for the delay, but the bad bacterial overgrowth that I have bifidobacterium spp.  Apparently having too much of it causes intestinal permeability issues (which I have) along with other absorption issues.  Part of the treatment is to cease all probiotics then, if that doesn't help things we may have to resort to stronger treatments.  The stool test was really useful.  I apparently have an e.coli overgrowth as well.  

Here's a question, if I take the Hunter Catalyst... I think I'm covered with Probiotics, right?  Or do I need to add something else?

I'm thinking that each systems Supp's... BTD and GTD, are full and complete and that if we use these that we are covered in all the supplements Dr. D recommends for us, right?  

My brother had picked up some soy probiotic powder and said it was too strong for him and gave it to me.

The first night I took it, I woke up feeling great the next morning.

A week later, I took some again, did not notice any change when I woke up.

My routine now is to take some echinacea tea during one day of the week, and that night drink the soy probiotic with some soy protein powder and soy milk (after the chamomile tea has worked it's way through my stomach).

My bubbling stomach only keeps me up a little at night.

I take polyflora.  I remember being very impressed with how well it helped my digestive tract when I first started taking it.

I took Primal Defense a few years ago.  The first bottle made me feel really great, and my digestion was strong and balanced.  A little way into the second bottle, I began to feel a lot of bloating and intestinal pain.  It got worse each  day as I continued to take the supplement.  

I went to my Naturopath, who asked what type of probiotic I was taking.  When I told her, she said, "Oh, that explains it!"  She went on to tell me that many of her patients were trying the formula and had a similiar experience.  Her opinion was that there were too many different strains of microorganisms in the capsules.  For a while, they improve the gut health, but then, they overpopulate and become counterproductive.

My next probiotic was Polyflora for type B's, and I've stayed with this one.  I experienced a great easing of the internal battle, and a new level of internal comfort.  The difference was very noticeable.  It makes a lot of sense to me that each blood type needs a different assortment of organisms in the internal garden.  One size does not fit all!

Just a question about the polyflora, at least the Polyflora B...

The ingredients include bakers yeast in them.  If someone is sensitive to candida, how is having bakers yeast in a probiotic O.K.?  Or does it somehow have to be included in the probiotic?

Quoted from typebdiet

Polyflora B...

The ingredients include bakers yeast in them.  If someone is sensitive to candida, how is having bakers yeast in a probiotic O.K.?  Or does it somehow have to be included in the probiotic?

The candida does not feed on yeast, it feeds on sugars...  If viable, the baker's yeast will compete with the candida for the available sugar...  

My speculation is that the baker's yeast would have been deactivated prior to inclusion in the probiotic, included as a pre-biotic for the beneficial bacteria...

It is a myth that bakers yeast feeds candida.

Two years ago I got news from Johh Harris, then still working for NAP a reply on my request regarding candida and brewer's yeast and/or baker'yeast.
These forms of yeast are certainly not nourishing the candida.
John stated then that brewer's and baker's yeast in fact contribute to killing the candida..!!

Cocky

I have been taking BTD probiotics twice a day for some years, now.  I can't really tell what they are doing but I certainly am hoping they contribute to better health.  My doctor is glad I'm taking them!

Thank you for your feedback about the baker's yeast.

I'm planning to switch to Teacher Activator when I need to order probiotics.

It's interesting that Teacher's are the only genotype with probiotics included in the suppliments.  I guess we are the ones with lots of uninvited guest.  

typebdiet - Brewers and Bakers yeast are Diamond foods for Teachers  so it must fight the bad guys.

Quoted from purlgirl

I'm planning to switch to Teacher Activator when I need to order probiotics.

It's interesting that Teacher's are the only genotype with probiotics included in the suppliments.  I guess we are the ones with lots of uninvited guest.  

typebdiet - Brewers and Bakers yeast are Diamond foods for Teachers  so it must fight the bad guys.

That is very interesting...the Teacher's Activator contains probiotics.  I wonder if that could
mean that Warriors have no need for probiotics?  I have no idea what type of probiotic a
Warrior  would thrive on.  I'm still taking the Polyflora for type A...I've tried so many
of the ones in the health food store...They seemed to make me bloated.  NAP told me
there is a Warrior toxin in the Polyflora A...but I'm taking it anyway.  A bad thing?

Did NAP tell you that you should not use the Polyflora A, Chloe?

I have taken the Polyflora B in the past & found them very effective, just don't have the money for them very often. I have tried occasionally other varieties from chemists/health food shops but they don't seem the same.

You may find it interesting to know that a hospital in Swansea, South Wales is planning to undertake a study in the effectiveness of probiotics for older people to counterattack the effects of antibiotics. They will test 4 different strains. I wonder what the results will be, as  we all need different strains of bacteria depending on Blood Type, and I do not think they will be taking this into account!   But I think it's good that even mainstream doctors are starting to realise the drawbacks of antibiotics.

Quoted from Victoria

Did NAP tell you that you should not use the Polyflora A, Chloe?

Here's the question I asked and perhaps you can make sense of the answer.
I called NAP...asked, "Does Polyflora A contain any ingredients that might be contraindicated if I'm following the Warrior diet?

(the reason I asked the question was because one ingredient, jerusalem artichoke is listed as
an toxin for Warriors.

The answer (after one person checked with another person)

"Yes, if you are following the GTD compliantly and want to avoid a known toxin for
Warriors, then the Polyflora A would contain a toxin".

The answer drove me crazy....It was like hearing that the one and only probiotic I ever
used that worked was now something I shouldn't use.

I tried many other probiotics for many months.  Went back to the Polyflora A because it
worked the best.  I cannot honestly believe that one tiny ingredient is going to invalidate my
general compliancy.  Still, it bothers me it's listed as a toxin for Warriors.

The fact that I'm blood type A and Polyflora A was designed for the BTD and not the GTD seems to be the issue, NAP told me.

I'll bet Dr. D is working on it, .

Might want to try the SWAMI express, and see if it classifies jerusalem artichoke as an avoid for you.

A polyflora A tablet contains 50 mg of jerusalem artichoke. This would mean you would need to take about 50 tablets to get the equivalent of eating a teaspoon of artichoke flour.

Good tips from C_sharp.  

I wanted to mention that the Hunter Catalyst also contains probiotics.  Maybe others genotype formulas, as well.  I haven't checked them all yet.  

Quoted from Rebecca_C

I had to stop taking probiotics after a stool test showed some problems.  Apparently some probiotics can feed the bad bacteria as well as the good.  If you're in balance, then they're great, but it did serve as a bit of a wake up call that you can't just take them and expect great resuls.

I'll find the report tonight to give the name of the bacteria, but the interesting part was that you can still take prebiotics as they truly do only feed the good bugs.

I would have thought it's the prebiotics like inulin in Jerusalem artichoke that can feed bad bacteria. Probiotic strains on the other hand can react negatively with your BT if poorly chosen. The one I take is by another brand but is a single strain and compliant with my BT.

Should I take a bifidus mix only supplement, or do I also need one that has acidophilus?

I d take the polyflora for As

I voted "no, I eat plenty of yogurt" because it was the closest, even though I don't actually consume yogurt, or any dairy product other than butter. But I do get my probiotics via fermented foods in my diet. I make beet kvass and fermented ginger carrots, and try to have 1-3 servings per day.

listen to this
http://www.aboessentials.com/servlet/the-template/newsletter/Page#audio

I've read that consuming prebiotics (what your flora snack on) are more important than probiotics.  Perhaps it is the prebiotics like Jerusalem artichoke, burdock root, and chicory root in Dr. D'Adamos supplements that really make them effective.

I get probiotics form my vitamins. I take the RAW kind made by Garden Of Life. I also drink alot of Good Belly (a probiotic drink) and since I am supposed to avoid all cow dairy I drink a goat's milk kefir with probiotics. I also take enzymes and I believe there are probiotics in them as well. Maybe I need to look up each probiotic individually and see if I'm making things worse.

I personally got good results when I was taking Culturelle - http://www.amazon.com/Culturel.....338752763&sr=8-4 though my uncle (a Type A as well) did not seem to benefit from it but maybe he got a bad batch.  He also got the kind in the yellow box where as I got the veggie ones (green box).  Don't know if that makes a difference. He also has multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) so that could have been another factor. Works for a lot of people though.

Here's more on the type of bacteria it contains - http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/LactobacillusGG.html

I know probiotics should be taken on an empty stomach, but does anyone know if there are optimal times of the day it could be taken?
Also, I remember feeling great after eating Ricera, a rice based yogurt.  Might be worth checking out.

^ I think it depends on the probiotic.  Some, such as the one I mentioned (Culturelle) can be taken any time, with or without food because it survives the stomach acid.  It really just depends on the type I guess.

After reading all your posts it makes me worry about the probiotics I am taking from the grocery store.  Maybe I will look into the ones for O from Dr. D.

Home-made fermented foods are by far the best probiotics source. I personally prefer water and milk kefir. Home-made fermented foods are very easy to make, are far cheaper than over-the-counter probiotics caps, and are the only way to ensure yourself that the probiotics you are ingesting are actually alive.

I always have a hard time believing probiotic capsules actually contain live cultures. Same holds for supermarket yogurts and commercial products like Yakult. Live bacteria need food and produce gas: that's why the packaging of spoiled products start to bulge, and that's why when making kefir yourself you can't keep it in an air-tight (glass) container because the container would then eventually explode! Those commercial products probably did contain live cultures once, but pasteurization processes likely killed (most) of them.

Do yourself a favor and learn how to make water or milk kefir. Not only will it give you thousands of times more live probiotics per serving, it is far cheaper as well; one starting culture of $5 will suffice for your lifelong probiotic needs. If kefir is an avoid on your SWAMI don't worry, that refers to milk kefir. Water kefir is beneficial for everyone. If you are worried about its sugar content just let the fermentation go on for 3 days or more; the kefir will taste very sour, but be very healthy too.

Best time to take probiotics is first thing in the morning (when stomach acid is at its lowest). If its kefir you're taking rinse your mouth with a glass of water to further dilute the stomach acid and to wash off the acids from your teeth.

PS. Forgot to mention: prebiotics are actually more important than probiotics. The probiotics in your gut need foods to stay alive, good sources are rice bran, oat bran and fruits. Taking probiotics on a daily base is very helpful and healthy, but theoretically it is unnecessary if you're consuming prebiotics. (There will always remain good bacteria in your gut, they just need enough food to multiply.)

Quoted from Damon

I always have a hard time believing probiotic capsules actually contain live cultures.

Quoted Text

Bacterial spores are dormant life forms which can exist in a desiccated and dehydrated state indefinitely.

Quoted from Lloyd

Lloyd

Thanks for the information. But since there's no way to be sure those dormant bacteria actually wake up in the gut and start colonizing, kefirs and other home-fermented foods are still superior ~in my opinion.

Quoted from Damon

Thanks for the information. But since there's no way to be sure those dormant bacteria actually wake up in the gut and start colonizing, kefirs and other home-fermented foods are still superior ~in my opinion.

Quoted from wikipedia

1. Survive the gastrointestinal tract.
Indeed, under its sporulated form, B. subtilis R0179 is able to survive high acidic environment and resists to high concentrations of bile. A study performed using an in vitro model of the upper gastro intestinal tract shows that B. subtilis R0179 survives passage through the stomach and duodenum, with at least 80% recovery of live bacteria after the duodenum. Consequently, an optimal amount of the friendly bacteria is likely to reach their site of action and exert their benefits.

First search item I looked at. Home ferments may still be superior.