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.