The Importance of Probiotics

An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms inhabit every normal, healthy bowel, where they keep pathogens (harmful microorganisms) in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function. If these gut-dwelling bacteria become depleted (usually because of disease, stress, poor diet, or medications like antibiotics) health problems can result. According to Harvard Women's Health Watch, probiotic therapy has been best studied for the treatment of diarrhea. It may also help people with Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gastrointestinal problems.[1]

www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/probiotics.htm

Starting Probiotics

You should not start probiotics until about day five on the diet.

Dosage for the Probiotics

Elaine wote:"I would only go for 3 billion a day to start with - divide the doze: am. and pm." [This means 1.5 billion dose to be given twice a day].

Start slowly with the acidophilus. You don't want more than 3 billion divided over a day when you first start. As your child gets used to this amount of probiotic, you may gradually increase it up to 9 billion cfu per day.

Read Elaine's comment regarding probiotics

Probiotic Storage

The L.Acidophilus should be stored in the refrigerator.

Initial Reactions

Some children exhibit increased hyperactivity or aggression when they start the probiotics. Other children get digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, and light-brown-yeasty looking stools. You just have to keep experimenting with the amount, you might need to start out with a smaller dose if you get too many negative reactions.

The SCD goat yogurt contains a much larger number of the beneficial lactic acid bacteria than the probiotic supplement. Another "plus" of the yogurt: the milk proteins encapsulate good bacteria. Then they can travel further in the GI tract where they do more healing. Although probiotics are very helpful, they don't do this. It is another reason why yogurt appears to promote increased healing.

Calcium in the dairy is an additional bonus. You further increase
benefits by adding probiotics to yogurt once your child becomes
accustomed to it and die off reaction has stopped. Consuming the
probiotic at the same time as the yogurt could help the probiotics
survive better during their travel inside the intestinal tract.

Read about the experience of list members with probiotics

When Probiotics Are Not Tolerated

The "LOW AND SLOW METHOD IS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT TOLERATE THE PROBIOTICS:

Click here to learn how to get your very sensitive child to tolerate probiotics

Recommended SCD legal Probiotics:

SCdophilus
Scdophilus™ is a certified dairy free product. Pam Ferro, an SCD/ASD pioneer, gets dramatic results in her clinic where she uses it for SCD children with autism.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus by Kirkman

Saccharomyces Boulardii Saccharomyces Boulardii is a unique non–pathogenic yeast which exercises beneficial actions in the intestinal tract. GI ProHealth carries a SCD legal brand of Saccharomyces Boulardii.

Click here to read more

Sheila's Comments Regarding VSL#3

"The VSL#3 is illegal and I certainly don't recommend it.

I've consulted with a few people who have gone into massive flares after trying the VSL#3. Also I know lots who have had major problems with bifidum bacteria (especially when on SCD).

Perhaps it is because the SCD clears out the harmful microbes and bifidum takes over, overgrowing into huge numbers. The by-products of bifidum bacteria could be what sends people into flares - especially those who have sensitive guts or those at the beginning of the diet, these people unfortunately have "fertile ground" for bifidum bacteria to overgrow."