Florajen 3‏

Dr. Brenda Watson, president and founder of Renew Life Formulas, has a show on health on PBS. Of course, she sells her own products. BUT she did explain the problems with people, like me, who have acid reflux. I decided that what she said may be true and that, at least, I could try it myself. I went to Lloyd Olpin, Nephi Pharmacy, and he suggested I purchase Florajen 3. It is less expensive than the product sold by Watson. The medication contains lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-12 and bifidobacterium longum. The way the probiotic works is by helping the body digest some of the foods that cause the problem. It has to be refrigerated. Lloyd keeps his cooled and behind the counter but it might be different at different pharmacies.

At any rate, I have been taking two a day for two weeks and the reflux is much reduced. I am so thankful that I thought I would let those of you who have this problem know. Maybe it was a Eureka moment.

There’s a battle being waged in your intestinal tract, and the bacteria outnumber the cells ten-to-one. Fortunately, this is a good thing. Probiotics are the good bacteria that we all have and need for intestinal tract and bowel health. These beneficial bacteria keep the bowel walls healthy, make vitamins and block out many of the bad bacteria that can infect the intestines.Doctors often recommend probiotics during and after an antibiotic regimen to combat the loss of good bacteria killed by the antibiotic. Losing these good bacteria can cause diarrhea and expose one to bacterial superinfections. Following an antibiotic with a probiotic can help replenish the good bacteria in the bowels.  Patients with a history of bowel symptoms are often given probiotics to help restore the health of the bowel wall. The bacteria have also been shown to reduce the risk and severity of eczema in newborns and infants when obtained by having pregnant and breastfeeding mothers ingest probiotics, or direct supplementation to the child.

Patients who have received an excess of antibiotics for colds, ear infections, sinus problems or other conditions should consider probiotics to restore a normal ratio of good-to-bad bacteria. Patients who experience irritable bowel symptoms, diarrhea, frequent travelers or those who are prone to stomach/bowel infections should consider probiotic treatment as well. Adding large amounts of the helpful bacteria can crowd out potential pathogens, bad bacteria and viruses that might cause infections.

Probiotics can be taken once or twice a day for maintenance of good bowel health. For patients taking antibiotics, it is recommended to take at least one dosage between the antibiotic doses, and for a minimum of two weeks once the antibiotic is done. Those with chronic bowel problems or suffering from bowel symptoms, start by taking probiotics twice daily. If you plan to travel and want to avoid bowel infections, consider taking one dose at least twice a day starting several days prior to departure and continuing until back home. Unless instructed otherwise, take probiotics at the end of a meal. They should be swallowed with pure, non-chlorinated water.