Friendly Bacteria

[andygates]

As reported on the Beeb, a small study of long-distance runners shows that probiotics reduce the number of reported sick days.  It's not clear whether the effect is on endurance athletes (bolstering a stressed immune system) or on skinny people (normalising an unusual gut flora) -- but as a walking sicknote who runs and is planning on doing a fair few long things this year, I'm probably going to give it a try.

Comments

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

We eat a lot of yoghurt.

Frood is skinny. I'm an endurance type (not skinny!)

Frood gets sick more often from bugs than I do. I get sick more often from skeleto-muscular problems than he does.

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

I've always been a bit dubious about them except when I'm actually recovering from antibiotics (which happens once in a blue moon anyway because I have an irrational feeling that considering the amount of antibiotics Gavin's on I probably shouldn't take them for anything less than major dental infections) but Peter swears by them and they do seem to help him.

[skean.livejournal.com]

I drink Actimel on and off. Usually seem to try it for a few weeks, then forget to buy it for a few. Can't say I notice the difference much, apart from I feel less hungry mid morning if I start the day with one. Luckily, I seem to suffer relatively few sick days, possibly because I am FAILING TO TRAIN AT ALL at the moment. Ahem.

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

I bought some probiotic caps (from Holland & Barrett), which go down much easier than horrid yoghurt drinks and I guess must be cheaper over time.