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Hi.

Welcome to my blog. My FODMAP Friend was started as a result of my own personal struggles with too many bad belly days with IBS. My intention is to provide evidence based and current nutrition recommendations for those seeking improved digestive health.

Specialties

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  • Completed the Monash University RDN training for the Low FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis)

  • Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery

  • Lactose intolerance

  • Enteral nutrition (tube feedings)

Probiotics That May Help Promote Weight Loss

Vanessa Vargas

Many probiotic strains have been shown to have health benefits however all probiotic strains are not equal. For example some probiotic strains help relieve IBS symptoms, while other help prevent UTIs or antibiotic induced diarrhea. We are still learning what specific probiotic strains help promote weight loss however here is what recent research suggests.

How can probiotics help achieve weight loss?

  1. Having more good gut bacteria may inhibit the absorption of fat from your diet which increases the amount of fat excreted in your bowels. This fat malabsorption may actually help you extract fewer calories from foods.

  2. There is also a theory that less-efficient bacteria (bacteriodes) allow food to pass more quickly through the intestines.

  3. Gut flora with more firmicutesmay be more efficient at breaking down food which can make you extract more calories.

  4. May help release more GLP-1 which can help decrease one's appetite and increase metabolism.

  5. May increase levels of the protein ANGPTL4 which may lead to decreased fat storage

  6. May reduce systemic inflammation and protect against obesity and other diseases.

Examples of Probiotics or Yogurts With Stains That May Help Promote Weight Loss

  1. VSL-3
  2. Bariatic Advantage Flora Adantage Control
  3. Celebrate Balance Probiotic+ Prebiotic
  4. Bio-kult
  5. Culturelle
  6. Ultraflora Control
  7. Klaire Lab Ther-Biotic Complex
  8. Dr Mecola Complete Probiotic
  9. Stonyfield yogurt
  10. Nancy’s Yogurt
  11. Lifeway Kefir
  12. Tillamock Farmstyle Greek Yogurt

I am sure there are more that I may have missed since this is quite the exploding market.

The strains that have shown potential include

  • Lactobacillus Gasseri
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum
  • Lactobacillus Rhamnosus

What We Know About Gut Bacteria and Obesity

  • Studies show that healthy weight people have different gut bacteria than those who are overweight or obese.
  • We can distinguish between healthy weight and obesity individual with a 90% accuracy by just looking at one's gut bacteria.
  • Obese gut bacteria have more firmicutes and fewer bacteroidetes, compared to normal weight people.
  • Several animal studies show that when the gut bacteria from obese mice are transplanted into guts of lean mice, the lean mice gain weight and become obese despite the same calorie intake and activity levels

 

Breakfast Ideas

Low Sugar Granolas