How do I take Lactobacillus casei without buying it in a expensive sugary form? I recently tried a new milk-based probiotic drink on the recommendation of a couple of co-workers. Though the product advertises itself as an immune-system booster, my friends and I found that it had an immediate and remarkably good effect on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, I tried the Lite version and the manufacurer is no longer making it (they only marketed it for a few weeks). The regular version is 90 calories and 15 gms of sugar for 3.3 oz. of fermented milk with Lactobacillus casei (the key ingredient) S.thermophilus and L. bulgaricus. Is there any way to get the good effects of these ingredients without the accompanying sugars? In addition, since it is taken daily, it's a bit pricey.

welcome!! probiotics (and also prebiotics) in general are beneficial to IBS and other related GI conditions. i'm curious, have you tried other forms of yogurt / yogurt drinks with live culture? do they offer the same benefits to your condition? or do you only see effects from L casei?

cheers

Annie, I've been lactose intolerant for the last 30 years, since my my early 20s. Yogurt is probably the worst trigger of all. I'm gathering that probiotics are only available in dairy cultures--is that what you're saying?

Welcome to the board carolyn! I think i need a little more clarification. Do you just have lactose intolerance? or were you actually diagnosed with IBS?

Also, you mentioned that "Yogurt is probably the worst trigger of all". Do other dairy products like milk or cheese bother you? what other foods bother you as well?

I've been out sick for a while, thanks for responding, Gloria. I have a long history of intestinal problems, including IBS (diagnosed after numerous tests over 20 years ago), lactose intolerance, gastric reflux (which rarely bothers me since a 65-pound weight loss), and colon cancer about 5 years ago. Most dairy foods seem to bother me, but I sometimes tolerate cheese, low-fat ice cream products and lactose-free milk if eaten with or directly after other foods. As I get older, the list of foods that bother me seems to be lengthening. The first was tomatoes, then broccoli, berries, and cabbage and onions are the most recent taboos. I also avoid products made with soy, as they are irritants and constipating. It was a pleasant surprise when the product I tried, DanActive, alleviated a lot of the symptoms. I have since contacted the manufacturer and the "Lite" version was only a product test. They have discontinued it and have no firm plans to resume production. Since calorie control is important to me, I am reluctant to use the "regular" type--particularly since I don't know if it will work as well. The ingredients are different from the Lite version. Any other suggestions for adding lactobacillus casei to my diet?

oh carolyn, it must be very tough for what you've gone thru.....

i'd go back to my original question - is L casei the only strain that is helpful to your condition? how about other other strains of live culture?

Yes carolyn, Thanks very much for clarifying your situation. Annie raised a very good question - regardless of low or high fat, organic or inorganic, have you tried other yogurt with active live culture? Do they offer you the same benefit? In other words, is DanActive the only brand you found beneficial?

Since I have been avoiding dairy products, I haven't tried any other products with live culture because I have been avoiding dairy products, and the DanActive product was specifically recommended to me. Do you have a recommendation vis a vis a yogurt product? I'm willing to try one.

hello carolyn.. Im ninia. I use this product called Yakult and it works for me. You can search for it on google. But I know it's only available in some countries. My nanny used to bring me Yakult everytime she will visit her family.

(sorry carolyn for a off topic post)

ninia - i've actually tried yakult in singapore 7 years ago. it's a yogurt drink and i found it taste good!!! i was told that it's a very famous drink from japan so i bought it!! i don't seem it find it here in canada..

[FONT=Arial] Hi There Have you tried taking a probiotic in capsule form? I take Quest capsules and find the amount of Lactobacillus is much better in this form. Also Quest came out first in the survey that was done.
Hope this works. Joan

Good morning Carolyn, looks like there are a few people interested in helping out. That's Good!

As mentioned by Annie, probiotics in general (active live culture) has been shown to improve GI distress. However the degree of benefits vary among individuals. You won't really know whether other strains of bacteria will help until you try it. Most yogurt with live culture contains Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus or Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Another option as mentioned by Joan is to take Acidophillus capsules sold in pharmacy and health food stores. However, I do not know which brand(s) may contain L Casei.

I was diagnosed as having a "spastic colon" when I was a senior in high school(1965) and also being lactose intolerant. Doctors said there was nothing they could do for me and I should avoid any foods that made me sick, along with the dairy. Well, several years later, they came out with "Lactaid" tablets in the drugstores and that fixed the dairy problems for me. Just last year I discovered that the "IBS" condition is a collective term that also applied to my spastic colon. All these years I haven't been able to eat raw fruits or vegetables until I discovered an OTC product by "Digestive Advantages" specifically for IBS - it's a once a day tablet, sugar-free, and it's been the CURE for me. Can't afford the new prescription drugs for IBS since I don't have insurance(haven't had any in over 10 years) and I just had to try it. Like I said, it cured me....now I can eat salads, bananas, peaches, tomatoes....and I never get sick any more. TRY IT!