Blog

Last updated 5/10/24

There is a rich amount of peer-reviewed, published data supporting the many positive effects of taking probiotics. However, not every product is perfect for every condition. Here is a brief summary of the strains that help with each type of condition, with links to some products that contain as many of those strains as I could find. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, so when you use the affiliate links to Amazon and the manufacturers you support the time and effort I put into doing this research for you! Thanks for using my links!

You can also find most of these products in my Fullscript Dispensary. Check prices there before deciding where to buy. It’s easy to set up an account!

Probiotics for Babies Born via C. Section

Bifidobacterium (B.) longum subsp. infantis, Bifidobacterium (B.) infantis EVC001

Baby’s Jarro-Dophilus Drops – Amazon
Evivo (15% off using this link)

Probiotics for Constipation

B. lactis (in children), B. longum, S. Boulardii, Equilibrium (115-strain probiotic), L reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 + L reuteri DSM 17938 and a combo of Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus and B. animalis (B. animalis lactis was formerly called B. infantis), spore- or soil-based strains (Bacillus)

For kids:
Douglas Labs Multi-Probiotic Kids Powder – Amazon
For adults:
Equilibrium – Equilibrium Store (15% off with code HDH15OFF)
Biogaia Gastrus – iHerb Amazon
Jarrow Formulas S. Boulardii – Fullscript
Microbiome Plus+ – Microbiome Plus web site
Greens First Women’s Health Probiotic – Amazon
Kirkman Pro-Bio Defense – Amazon
Syntol AMD (also yeast cleansing formula) – Amazon
Megasporebiotic – Fullscript
justthrive Probiotic – justthrive Store

Probiotics for Infectious Diarrhea

L. rhamnosus GG, L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus

Culturelle – Amazon
Klaire Labs – Ther-Biotic Complete – Fullscript

Probiotics for Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

S. boulardii, a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2

Jarrow Formulas S. Boulardii – Fullscript
Florastor – Amazon
Bio-K+ (contains dairy) – Amazon

Probiotics for IBS-Related Diarrhea

Bacilis coagulans, S. boulardii, Clostridium butyricum, and a combination of several Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains

Pendulum Butyricum (30% off first purchase with code GoParsons30) or Fullscript
Jarrow Formulas S. Boulardii – Fullscript
Douglas Labs Multi-Probiotic 40 Billion – Fullscript
DrFormulas Nexabiotic Advanced Multi-Probiotic – Amazon

Probiotics for Breakdown of Digestive Plaques Associated with Crohn’s Disease

L. acidophilus, S. Boulardii, B. breve, L. rhamnosus + Amylase (digestive enzyme)

BIOHM – BIOHM store (use my affiliate code HDH for a discount)

Probiotics for Leaky Gut

Bacillus indicus (HU36), Bacillus subtilis (HU58), Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus clausii

Megasporebiotic – Fullscript
justthrive Probiotic – justthrive Store

Probiotics for Pain and IBS Symptoms

Bifidobacterium infantis 35624

Align – Amazon

Probiotics for Gas and Bloating

L. plantarum 299v

Jarrow Formulas Ideal Bowel Support – Fullscript

Probiotics for Heart Health/Decrease in Bad Cholesterol, Increase in Good/Reduction of Triglycerides

L. acidophilus, B. longum and L. reuteri, spore- or soil-based strains (Bacillus)

Microbiome Plus+ – Microbiome Plus web site
trunature Advanced Digestive Probiotic – Amazon
Nature’s Way Primodophilus Reuteri pearls – Amazon
justthrive Probiotic – justthrive Store

Probiotics for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis

S. Boulardii, L. rhamnosus GG, L. plantarum 299v, VSL#3 (combo of many lactobaccili and bifidobacteria)

Jarrow Formulas S. Boulardii – Fullscript
Culturelle – Amazon
Jarrow Formulas Ideal Bowel Support – Fullscript
Visbiome (originally called VSL#3) – Amazon or VSL#3 (made by different manufacturer than original VSL#3) – Fullscript

Probiotics for H. Pylori Infections

L reuteri DSMZ 17648 (Pylopass™)

Life Extension Gastro-ease – Fullscript
H. Pylori Fight – Amazon
Pyloguard – from Microbiome Labs (you need to set up an account to order) or Fullscript

Probiotics for Weight Loss and Metabolic Health

A. muciniphila, L. gasseri, L. rhamnosus, a combo of L. rhamnosus and B. lactis (B. animalis lactis, previously known as B. infantis) and Equilibrium (115-strain probiotic)

Pendulum Akkermansia 500 Pro on Fullscript or Akkermansia 100 Pro on Fullscript
Pendulum Glucose Control – Fullscript or Metabolic Daily Pro – Fullscript
Douglas Labs Multi-Probiotic 40 Billion – Fullscript
Equilibrium – Equilibrium Store (15% off with code HDH15OFF)
Bifido Maximus from The Gut Institute – The Gut Institute

Probiotics for Mental Health

B. longum, B. breve, B. infantis, L. helveticus and L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, L. casei and B. bifidum, Bacillus indicus (HU36), Bacillus subtilis (HU58), Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus clausii

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Professional Formula – Amazon
justthrive Probiotic – justthrive Store

Probiotics for General Health, Increase of Short Chain Fatty Acids/Butyrate

B. bifidum, A. muciniphila, Clostridium butyricum

Bifido Maximus from The Gut Institute – The Gut Institute
Seeking Health – ProBiota HistaminX – Fullscript
Douglas Labs Multi-Probiotic 40 Billion – Fullscript
Lifted Naturals Bifidus Mood Boost – Amazon
Pendulum Akkermansia 500 Pro on Fullscript or Akkermansia 100 Pro on Fullscript
Pendulum Glucose Control – Fullscript or Metabolic Daily Pro – Fullscript
Pendulum Butyricum (30% off first purchase with code GoParsons30) or Fullscript

Probiotics for Histamine Intolerance

B. infantis, L. gasseri, B. breve, B. bifidum, L. salivarius, L. rhamnosus (especially GG), B. longum, B. lactis, L. plantarum


Bifido Maximus from The Gut Institute (also D-Lactate-free) – The Gut Institute
Seeking Health – ProBiota HistaminX – Fullscript
Vitanica – Flora Symmetry – Amazon
Lifted Naturals Bifidus Mood Boost (also D-Lactate-free) – Amazon

First Probiotics Post-SIBO Treatment

Bifidobacterium strains
Bacillus clausii

justthrive Probiotic – justthrive Store
Renew Life Adult 50+ Probiotic – Amazon
RestorFlora – only available from Fullscript
Seeking Health Probiota Bifido – Amazon
Lifted Naturals Bifidus Mood Boost (also D-Lactate-free) – Amazon

Probiotics post Binge-Drinking to Prevent Hangovers

Genetically engineering B. subtilis

Zbiotics – 10% off your first order using that link or code PERFECTSTOOL

Probiotics for Heavy Metal Detox

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 33464

MegaMetalliQ – from Microbiome Labs (you need to set up an account to order)

Most Diverse Probiotic (Highest Number of Strains)

Equilibrium – Equilibrium Store (15% off with code HDH15OFF)

Probiotics for Oral Care (Probiotics for Teeth, Gums and Breath)

Lactobacillus reuteri (LRE-15), Lactobacillus salivarius (LS-33), Bifidobacterium lactis (HN019), Streptococcus uberis KJ2, Stretococcus oralis KJ3, Streptococcus rattus JH145

Probiora – from Amazon
Researched Nutritionals Oramax – from Pine Street Clinic

If all this was too confusing and you feel like you need some help and guidance in choosing a probiotic or solving your gut, autoimmune or other health issues, you can set up a free, 30-minute Breakthrough Session with me (Lindsey) to share what you’ve been going through and decide whether my 5-appointment gut health coaching program or a longer program for autoimmunity or weight loss is a good fit for you. Individual 1-hour consultations may be scheduled directly here.

Sources:

• How to Choose the Best Probiotic Supplement
• Intervention strategies for cesarean section–induced alterations in the microbiota-gut-brain axis
• 200 Person Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Study of Equilibrium Brand Probiotic
• Effects of a Novel Probiotic Combination on Pathogenic Bacterial-Fungal Polymicrobial Biofilms
• Histamine Intolerance and Probiotics? Careful.
• Oral spore-based probiotic supplementation was associated with reduced incidence of post-prandial dietary endotoxin, triglycerides, and disease risk biomarkers
• Probiotics for Histamine Intolerance: What You Need to Know
• Probiotics for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Strain-Specificity and Disease-Specificity of Probiotic Efficacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Therapeutic modulation of gut microbiota: current clinical applications and future perspectives

If you’ve never tried lemon grass from the tubes of paste that you can find at Safeway in the produce section, you’re in for a treat!

Chicken with Lemon Grass Recipe

Ingredients
1 package (1 lb.) chicken thighs or breasts
3 tbsp. lemon grass paste or 3 stalks of lemon grass, outer leaves removed and edible parts blended
3 spring onions
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
2 tbsp. avocado or coconut oil
2 cups cut up vegetables of your choice (broccoli, bok choi, Chinese broccoli, peppers, carrots, kale, chard, etc. are all good choices)
1-2 fresh red chilies, seeded and chopped (or a squirt of sriracha)
4 tsp. sugar or xylitol
Extra black pepper to taste
½ cup roasted peanuts, finely chopped
1-2 tbsp. fish sauce to taste
fresh cilantro, washed and leaves removed

Cut the chicken up into bite sized pieces and remove fat. Finely slice the spring onions, including green leaves. Mix the chicken pieces with the salt, pepper, 2 tbsp. of the lemon grass paste and spring onions and set aside for 30 minutes.

Heat a wok to medium high, add oil and when oil is hot, add the chicken mixture and stir fry for 5-7 minutes until all chicken is mostly cooked through. Remove from pan. Add the chilies and vegetables and cook until crisp and bright but cooked through. Add last tablespoon of lemon grass paste, put chicken back in, and add sugar (or xylitol), extra black pepper and fish sauce and mix. Sprinkle chopped peanuts and cilantro on dishes to serve.

Serve over rice, rice noodles or shirataki noodles if grain-free.

Many of my clients struggle with situations in which they find themselves having to refuse or resist sweets all around them as they try cut sugar out of their diets for good. This can be hard and awkward for them and can feel like a strain on relationships. I wrote up this sample letter that you can modify to meet your needs if you find yourself in the same situation. Imagine if everyone sent out a similar letter – we could change the culture!

Dear friends, family and colleagues,

I’m so thankful for the ways that you have shown me love over the years. For some of you, one of these ways was sharing food you loved with me, including special desserts. Unfortunately, my health and weight have brought me to make the decision to stay away from sweets most of the time going forward. To be clear, I’m not going on a diet. I’m changing the way I eat for life, to ensure my health and longevity. This is very important to me, so I want to share it with you so that you can best support me in my goals.

Going forward, I want to suggest some other ways that you could share your love with me and support me in my efforts. If you’re wanting to give me something sweet or share something sweet for a potluck or a family gathering, fresh fruit would be awesome. I’m also open to eating desserts that do not have added sugar. Some alternative sweeteners that work for me are xylitol (replaces sugar 1:1), Steevia, erythritol, and monk fruit extract. And of course this doesn’t mean that you can’t bring regular desserts for other people to eat. I just don’t want you to be offended if you don’t see me partaking.

And another way that you could support me is by not offering traditional sweets or desserts to me, as it currently is a difficult temptation for me. Another way you could support me is by hiding any sweets or candy that you typically keep out on your desk or in your home when I’m visiting. Or if you have leftover sweets, it would make it much easier for me if you didn’t leave them uncovered in a public place or announce their existence over group emails. I’m guessing I’m probably not the only one trying to cut back on sweets!

Thank you for your support in my health efforts! ​

One of my favorite vegetable side dish recipes – I could eat half a head of cauliflower at a sitting this is so yummy.

Serves 4-6 as a side dish. 15 minutes prep; 40 minutes cooking time.

​1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. turmeric
1-2 tsp. crushed red pepper (depending on your tolerance for spiciness)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets (reserve the core for the next recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine oil, cumin, turmeric, crushed red pepper and salt. Mix then add the cauliflower pieces and toss to coat.

2. Spread cauliflower evenly on a cookie sheet so that all of it touches the pan.

3. Put on the bottom shelf of the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

4. Take out and turn each piece over.

5. Put back on bottom shelf of oven for 15-20 more minutes until each piece looks cooked through and nicely browned.

Caulifower Almond Patties

Makes 3-4 patties. 23 minutes.

Last night while I was going to sleep, I thought up these patties as a way to incorporate more vegetables and nutrition in my bread. They’re gluten-free, quick and simple to make and have a chewy and toothsome feel that’s very satisfying. They can serve as a base to an open-face sandwich, the way I did above with sauteed arugula and zucchini slices with pesto, or even as a pizza base.

1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup arrowroot starch
One cauliflower core, shredded
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. water (add one by one until you get a good consistency)

1. Combine all ingredients except water, then add water tablespoon by tablespoon to get a good consistency, adding more if necessary. It should hold together without being runny.

2. Heat a nonstick pan on medium and add about 1/2 tbsp. avocado or other high-temperature tolerant oil. Put a scoop of batter in the pan and push and spread it into a patty shape (the size of a kaiser roll). Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Add more oil for each one as necessary. ​​

9 out of 10 Don’t Know It

According to the CDC, one in three Americans has prediabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

I have exciting news to share! The first episode of my new podcast has just been published and you can access it now on Apple podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcast app! Or you can just play it from your computer.

It’s called The Perfect Stool: Understanding and Healing the Gut Microbiome. If you’re suffering from gut problems from bloating to acid reflux, IBS to stomach pain, this podcast if for you! I interview functional and integrative medicine professionals, patients and scientists about the gut microbiome, the current state of research and how you can apply it to your life.

And if you’ve never heard of a fecal transplant, boy are you in for a surprise when you hear what people are doing to heal themselves! You’ll also learn about the gut microbiome’s influence not just on digestive health, but on cardiovascular health, mental health (including anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism), autoimmune diseases, skin conditions and overweight/obesity.

So please look for “The Perfect Stool” on your favorite podcasting app, and if you like it, review it and share it with your friends and family!

In celebration of Cyberweek, I’m offering the following deals (for new clients only):

$25 off a 14-day Total Body Reset Cleanse

$50 off a 4-week Weight Loss Jump Start Coaching Program

$100 off a 12-week Weight Loss Coaching Program

To qualify for these discounts, you must schedule your initial consultation by November 30th, pay for your program this year and schedule the start of your program by January 15th.

To set up an initial consultation or for more information, please call Lindsey at (216) 337-9344 or e-mail lindsey@highdeserthealthcoaching.com.

Happy Cyberweek!

In honor of Halloween, which is tomorrow, I wanted to share with you my favorite finds for healthier chocolate choices. As far as candy goes, dark chocolate is probably your most healthy option. And while I’m a firm advocate for eliminating as much added sugar as possible, I find that sometimes I just want that square or two of dark chocolate after dinner to finish off my meal and tell my body that it’s done eating, which is much better than a big dessert!

And there are some health benefits to chocolate, including it being a powerful source of antioxidants; raising good HDL cholesterol; and possibly reducing heart disease risk, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. And dark chocolate is a great source of fiber! But let’s not kid ourselves, at the end of the day, it’s still candy and has added sugars, so the key is moderation, and if you can’t limit yourself to two or three squares, best to abstain completely.

And if you suffer from autoimmune disorders like I do and have to avoid dairy or soy like me (or are lactose-intolerant or vegan), you’ll find that most brands of chocolate contain soy lecithin and many contain milk, especially for lower percentage cacao bars (I usually shoot for at least 70% cacao, although the dark chocolate mint one below is 67%). So two of my current favorites that have no soy or dairy (or gluten) are the Theo’s Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate Salted Almond and the Equal Exchange Dark Chocolate Mint bars. Both are organic, fair trade, rich and delicious.

If you’re doing the auto-immune protocol (AIP) and are avoiding chocolate altogether, you could try this carob-based bar.

In terms of sugar-free chocolate, I tried one bar made with xylitol, but it just didn’t have the rich quality that makes chocolate so irresistible. There is one brand of chocolate that is made with steevia and no sugar, Lily’s, but I’m not a huge fan of steevia due to the aftertaste and they have soy. But for those of you who like steevia and have no issue with soy, these bars or chocolate chips are a great choices.

      

And my favorite gluten-, soy- and dairy-free chocolate chips are the Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips:

So on Halloween if you go ahead and indulge, indulge responsibly on high quality, delicious chocolate. Don’t waste your stomach space or the calories on low quality, oversweetened, cheap candy!

The links on this page are affiliate links to Amazon for which I receive a very small commission. I appreciate your support in using them!

If you’ve been struggling to lose weight and keep it off, sugar is most likely the enemy.

One study found that people whose urine tests showed higher sugar consumption levels over three years were 54% more likely to be overweight than those who were objectively shown to be eating the least sugar in their diet.

The crazy thing is that you may not even realize you’re eating it. A University of North Carolina study found that 60% of packaged foods bought in the U.S. contained added sugar.

How to avoid added sugar?

1. Check labels closely – first for the amount of total sugars, then the ingredients list (see list of sugar names below).
2. Try to choose foods with no or negligible amounts of sugar (1-2 grams) unless the food contains dairy or large amounts of fruit, both of which contain naturally occurring sugars.
3. For sweetened foods like cereals or granola bars:
   grams of sugar – grams of fiber should be < 3 grams of sugar
4. Check online menus of favorite restaurants to pick lowest sugar options.

Here are some common names for sugar you may not be familiar with:

Agave nectar
Barley malt
Beet sugar
Blackstrap molasses
Brown rice syrup
Brown sugar
Buttered syrup
Cane juice crystals
Cane sugar
Caramel
Carob syrup
Castor sugar
Coconut sugar
Confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
Corn syrup
Corn syrup solids
Date sugar
Demerara sugar
Dextrin
Dextrose
Diastatic malt
D-ribose
Ethyl maltol
Evaporated cane juice
Florida crystals
Fructose
Fruit juice
Fruit juice concentrate
Galactose
Glucose
Golden sugar
Golden syrup
Grape sugar
High-fructose corn syrup
Honey
Icing sugar
Invert sugar
Lactose
Malt syrup
Maltodextrin
Maltose
Maple syrup
Molasses
Muscovado sugar
Panela sugar
Raw sugar
Refiner’s syrup
Rice syrup
Sorghum syrup
Sucanat
Sucrose
Treacle sugar
Turbinado sugar
Yellow sugar

If you’re struggling to kick the sugar habit, I’d love to help you! Set up a free 60-minute consultation to help you understand what’s keeping you from kicking the sugar habit and/or meeting your weight loss goals. I meet with clients in person in Tucson, Arizona or online from anywhere!

If you’d like to reduce your business’ health care costs by helping your employees kick the sugar habit, I’d love to give a free talk at your Tucson workplace on “How and Why to Kick the Sugar Habit“.​