Shopping

I have never seriously considered buying probiotics, I always felt my diet was good enough, the age meant it wasn't needed, and that my fitness helped also keep my body well regulated.

So it was time to go shopping and learn about what was out there and what I would be likely to use.
I chose to shop at Sprouts Grocery (http://sprouts.com/) this is a store I do a lot of my shopping at. I trust the products they carry. The store prides itself on foods that are not overly processed and are as fresh as possible. I though what better place to search for a homeopathic supplement like probiotics. I walked into the store and went straight to the vitamin and supplement isle. Here after a bit of searching (between the GI "cleaning" products and heart burn products were the self stable probiotics. The first ones I looked at seemed very medicine like.

Digest from Enzymedica


The price was good $9.39 , it was vegan (so no gelatin capsules or animal products inside) but was it a probiotic?

Next I saw Primal Defense from Garden of Life

"HSO Probiotic Formula" ok here we go. "vegetarian" good no animal products per say (although not vegan)

Next to it was the Primal Defense ULTRA
"15 billion Probiotic Cells Daily" is that a good thing? 90 days worth was on sale for $35.99...



But taking a Supplement that is has a very medicine feel to it was definitely not for me. Especially when I saw Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics 12 Plus next on the Self
"Product behind the counter see a vitamins clerk" sounds like I should ask my Doctor or RD about this first....


I saw "Primadophilus Fortify" by Natures Way.... bad name if it was natures way I'd get it by eating a whole food (ie fruit, vegetable or grain not a pill....)
"Room temperature stable" why was that important? its on a shelf are there non room temperature stable probiotics (more on that later)


Here we go "Probiolicious Gummies" easy enough I can take these with my other supplements. But they have gelitin in them I try to stay away form gelatin.



Next to that was "Acidophilus and Bifidium" you have to refrigerate after opening but its a chewable and its not very expensive....


Above that was "Pearls" brand they had a few different ones but the brand just seemed geared towards women so I passed


Then there was "Jarro-Dophilius" not sure what it did but the picture of the intestine with smiley faces on it gave me the creeps...



So now I asked the "Vitmin clerk" about non-roomtemperature stable probiotics she pointed me to a small refrigerated section.... Wow lots more here.

Liquid Acidophilus, I still have no idea what Acidophilus is I assume a type of probiotic organism. Blueberry flavor I like it, maybe I can put this in smoothies....
Nope it has Milk in it I try and stay away form Daily too much doesn't agree with me that well.



Here is a Soy based Liquid Acidophilus this could work. Strawberry flavor I could put that in a smoothie but I don't drink smoothies daily. When I do it is usually after a hard workout and I want fast and easy calories maybe a probiotic wouldn't be good when my body is already so taxed...



Then I same small dairy yogurts, again I shy away form dairy and they are expensive!


Here is Rhino Acidophilus Chewable this could work.... not room temperature stable but the price was right...



I then headed over to the Komucha section. I was thinking a Kombucha wouldn't be a daily thing but taken every few days as a mid day snack could work well for me.

The major brand was "Enlightened" here was the "Raw" flavor, didn't sound very appetizing.


This Kombucha from High Country caught my eye, "Wild Root" flavor. Reading more it was basically root beer flavor. That could work.



Another drink that caught my eye was "Kevita" its Greens blend seemed interesting I enjoy superfood style drinks and smoothies.



After weighing all the options I decided that two types were for me.

1st the "Acidophilus and Bifidium"

It was a good price point it was more stable at room temperature (though it needed to be refrigerated after opening) it was more along the lines of the supplements I take now and that seemed like a good fit for me and my routine.

2nd I wanted to try a Komucha drink. These drinks could be a great afternoon drink I can bring to work. I wouldn't drink one every day but one every few days would probably be good. I chose the "Enlightened" strawberry flavored drink.

Thru all this I still don't understand what the difference is between an Enzyme supplement and a probiotic. I don't know how much or how often to take a probiotic, and I don't really know how it will effect my body. Are there Priobitic whole foods out there?

This has been a big learning experience for me into a supplement I knew little about.

My Probiotics Story

When I think of Probiotics very honestly I think of Jamie Lee Curis and those yogurt commercials... I swear they are everywhere, that isn't really a good thing I think. As it doesn't tell me why I should use it really I just associate a person with the product.

From what understand probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics in the sense that they are the organics and bacteria needed by the body to regular digestion. This tiny organisms help the body's GI break down food so you can absorb vitamins and minerals.

From what I know probiotics are an important part of the digestion process. With out eating whole foods (ie fruits and veggy's) the body can be stripped of these organisms by eating food that in a sense could be too clean.... With out these organisms the body can't break down certain items or foods and the GI is not happy. Its like a clogged filter in a sense the probiotics break foods down so that they can be passed thru the bodies "filters" but with out them.



EDIT:
From my perspective Probiotics are small organisms that aid in breaking down of certain foods and compounds so the body can take advantage of them. Like the fish that clean sharks they help each other. I do not think that probiotics have a direct effect on emotional health but from my experience I am much happier when I am healthy.



I have not sought out or researched Probiotics. I mainly became aware of them thru TV commercials. The only other probiotics that I am aware of are kombucha and other fermented drinks that contain naturally occurring organisms. I have seen these at the grocery store and at small fast casual style healthy eating restaurants.

A person that definitely takes probiotics? I think that is a really hard question to answer. In my mind I really see it as 2 people.

1.) The healthy holistic person, what some would say is hippie like


A person very interested in holistic and homeopathic remedies.

2.) An older person who is seeking new nutritional needs as they get older.


This person is seeking the missing nutrition aging body needs.


EDIT:
I think that due to my good diet and plentiful exercise that I am not in need of probiotics. This is my thought, but I could be wrong I am not sure if I am missing these key probiotics. For me it feels like it could be redundant.

My name is Scott and I ride bikes...... a lot....

I am starting this blog to document my nutritional supplement experience. First let me introduce myself.

My name is Scott I grew up in the Boston area and ~7 years ago I moved to Southern California. One of my main reasons for moving to Socal was to live a more active lifestyle in a more moderate climate.

Since moving to Socal I've gone from a recreational cyclist (Riding a couple times a week) to riding every day and dropping close to 40lbs.

As you will find out I ride bikes a lot... its an obsession, even boarder line silly.



I pay very close attention to what I eat and what I put into my body. If it will help me get faster I will do it, if it will get me to race weight I'm in, but I also will treat myself to well deserved treats after long days in the saddle.



One unique aspect of my training and lift style is I am vegetarian. I eat egg whites and fish to protein but have not eaten red meat, pork, or poultry in 10 years.


A metaphor for how I approach my fitness and life style?


I enjoy fresh food that is quality and is good for my well being. I enjoy food even more when I know that it will help me attain my goals on the bike. But life is a balance and I wasn't always as balanced when it came to my health. Before moving to SoCal I ate, drank, and Partied my way thru my 20s. Not to say it wasn't good fun but one day I woke up and realized I was fat, out of shape, and with my family history of bad heart health I needed to make a change. I already had a love of cycling but what my head wanted to do my body could not. It has taken years to climb the ladder to the top of the amateur levels of the sport (lets not kid ourselves I am too old and to slow to move up to the Pro ranks) but I have lofty goals and my life style change has made them possible.


When it comes to food I enjoy a great meal as much if not more then most. I enjoy it on many levels. I enjoy the freshness or local produce, the spice and ethnicity of different types, and I enjoy the experience of the cultures different foods have to offer. I also enjoy foods on a different level, on a biological and chemical level also. Knowing that eating that fresh tuna steak after an intense interval session will give my muscles the protein needed to repair and rebuild muscles. That the BCAAs in that quinoa will go straight to my muscles where it will give them the energy they need to recover for tomorrows next session on the bike.

But being a vegetarian it can be hard to take in all the essential vitamins and minerals I need to perform at a high level. I currently take 2 daily supplements to aid in my diet.

1st is a multi vitamin from Kirkland (Costco Brand)


What can I say I'm a kid at heart and I enjoy the flavors (like candy) and I'm a sucker for dinosaurs:) In all seriousness this multivitamin has all the essential items I need to suppliment into my diet in a convenient tasty treat.

The 2nd supplement I take is Lill Critters Calcium with vitamin D.


Again I enjoy supplements that seem more like a treat then medicine. With my lack of dairy intake (I eat a small amount of cheese but cook with and drink almond milk) Calcium is a key mineral I am with out. This formula is a tasty gummy treat that is also vegetarian (no gelatin used in them)

I pack these items into my daily lunches to bring to work or if I don't pack a daily lunch I leave them in the bathroom so I remember to take them before bed.