The golden rule is to tailor treatment to your specific symptoms. For example, certain strains of probiotics have some evidence of reducing IBS symptoms, but others don’t. Probiotic foods and supplements can be pricey, and it's hard to cut through the clever marketing and know what's worth buying, and what's best left on the shelf. Probiotics are generally classed as food rather than medicine, which means they don't go through the rigorous testing medicines do.

Alflorex was developed in collaboration with the APC Microbiome Institute in Ireland a centre at the cutting edge of global probiotic research. Just last year, I reported on work being done there which showed that men taking another probiotic strain, called Bifidobacterium longum 1714 performed better in stress tests than those taking a placebo. 75 scientific papers have shown the benefits of Alflorex After 2 weeks I did start to see noticeable improvements, mainly in terms of bowel movements and the way I was able to eat larger meals without experiencing stomach cramps. In general, from the moment I woke up my stomach felt calm, whereas before I had to down 2 pints of water just so I could feel like my gut was cleansed. Among the numerous clinical studies showing Alflorex’s effectiveness was a fascinating one done on 362 female patients with IBS. Half were given a placebo and half were given Alflorex to take and their IBS symptoms were monitored daily. The research, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that at the end of the four weeks the women taking the Alflorex saw their symptoms significantly improve, especially abdominal pain, constipation, bloating and wind. In the US it’s the number one probiotic recommended by gastroenterologists for IBS Gut bacteria and probiotics

Moderation team

My specialist recommended these to me. The first two weeks on these were absolute hell. Unbearable stomach cramps. Needing to run to the toilet at all hours of the day. But by week three a massive change had occurred. I now feel almost cured from the burden that is IBS. I guess the first two weeks were caused by my stomach getting used to the bacteria. Now I am able to stop taking daily dosages of Imodium and not worry.” – October 3, 2017

Fermented products can contain a wide variety of bacteria and minerals that contribute to gut diversity. It's hard to know what bacteria is in these foods and what bacteria your body needs, so it’s worth experimenting by including a range of them in your diet (gradually, not all at once!). Marketing materials say it " is the #1 Gastroenterologist recommended probiotic culture in the U.S.” This claim is based on a survey performed in 2017 among doctors and/or gastroenterologists who recommended a brand of probiotic by a human data service company, AlphaImpactRx. Marketing materials also state that it is the winner of awards from Irish pharmacists and industry experts, who voted it the winner of Best Gastrointestinal Product for 3 years in a row at the Irish Pharmacy News OTC (over-the-counter) Awards. After 1 week I noticed subtle changes, but not dramatic. The bloating I would usually feel after a larger meal felt less uncomfortable, but I wasn’t sure if this was just a placebo effect and you can’t really tell after 1 week alone anyway. The excess histamine is then absorbed through the lining of the intestinal tract and into the bloodstream, causing symptoms similar to an allergic reaction ( 27). But for most people, probiotics appear to be safe. If you want to try them, and you have a healthy immune system, they shouldn't cause any unpleasant side effects. Issues to be aware ofAnd there's likely to be a huge difference between the pharmaceutical-grade probiotics that show promise in clinical trials and the yoghurts and supplements sold in shops. Keeping a food diary including any headache symptoms you might experience can help clarify whether fermented foods are problematic for you. But when it comes to how exactly to support our gut microbiome, things can get complicated. Nobody really knows what a 'normal' microbiome should look like and the diversity of gut bacteria varies from person to person. DISCLAIMER: We aim to ensure that the contents of this article (materials) are accurate and consistent with current knowledge and practice. However, the materials are not exhaustive, presenting some but not all aspects of conditions and cannot always reflect all the most recent medical research in all areas. We make no guarantees, representations or warranties whether express or implied that the materials are accurate, complete or up-to-date. There's some evidence that probiotics may be helpful in some cases, such as helping to ease some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Fermented drinks, such as kombucha (a slightly sour, fizzy flavoured drink made from sweetened tea and bacterial cultures) and foods such as miso, kimchi and sauerkraut, are associated with positive digestive health, but the evidence for this is somewhat limited. Biogenic amines are substances that form when protein-containing foods age or are fermented by bacteria ( 13).Probiotic ‘good bacteria’ occur naturally in your gut and play a crucial role in this microscopic world. However, they can be disrupted by a range of factors, including poor diet, stress or taking a course of antibiotics. Some people experience gas and bloating when consuming synbiotics. Those who experience these side effects may want to select a supplement that does not contain prebiotics ( 40). Summary