It is so important to have a healthy diet and to daily make healthy food choices, but when you have issues with your health, it is mandatory that you change your eating habits or you remain sick and get increasingly sicker. Before I did a complete overhaul to my diet because of my grain allergies, I suffered through many other auto-immune triggered “diseases” or ailments. After I started to manage my food closely, I instantly started to feel so much better.
There are all kinds of sicknesses that are directly affected with food choices such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis (UC), diabetes, Crohn’s disease, Celiac Disease, diverticulitis, gall bladder disease, gout and Coeliac disease to name a few. While my 21 year old daughter has been trying to heal her leaky gut, a whole slew of problems including IBS have reared their ugly heads, so we have become intensely focused on everything we consume. Not only am I constantly creating new recipes, but we are learning more about the entire body and the effect foods have on it.
In our digestive system and intestines there are millions of bacteria that help keep the intestines healthy, assist in digesting food, and also help the immune system. Obviously, it is important to do all we can to help the healthy bacteria thrive. Not only is food management essential to this endeavor, but it is very important to take a good probiotic with a high concentration of beneficial live bacteria in it. VSL#3 is a high potency probiotic medical food that is clinically proven in the dietary management of IBS, ulcerative colitis and ileal pouch. VSL#3 has the highest concentration of beneficial live bacteria in the world.
Before I share a delicious IBS friendly recipe created by Patsy Catsos, a registered dietitian who focuses on GI issues, I want to share a little information I think you will find very interesting and educational.
What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a serious GI (gastrointestinal) issue that affects the large intestine (colon) and commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.
Facts about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- There is no cure for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- There is no known cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Up to 20 percent of the adults in the United States have IBS symptoms.
- More women than men are diagnosed with IBS, but many never seek medical help for it.
- IBS symptoms first appear before the age of 35 for about half of IBS sufferers and is often diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50.
- Not only do children with IBS have to deal with abdominal discomfort and bloating, but often this chronic condition can result in the disruption of social/family activities.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is thought to affect about 15 percent of children and teenagers after the age of 5 or 6.
What Is Ulcerative Colitis (UC)?
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and sores called ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine. The inflammation causes erosion of the lining of the colon which leads to bleeding and the production of pus, diarrhea and severe abdominal discomfort.
Facts about Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
- Ulcerative Colitis (UC) affects more than 1 in every 1,000 Americans.
- Ulcerative Colitis (UC) starts between the ages of 15 and 30.
- Ulcerative colitis can be debilitating and can lead to life-threatening complications. (Mayo Clinic)
- There is no known cause for Ulcerative Colitis (UC). (Mayo Clinic)
- Proper treatment and dietary management can greatly reduce signs and symptoms of the disease and can bring about long-term remission.
What Is A Probiotic?
Probiotics are good bacteria or microorganisms that are believed to improve health. It is believed by researchers that digestive disorders happen when the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestines becomes disturbed. Many things can cause this to happen like after you have an infection or take antibiotics. So intestinal problems happen when the lining of the intestines is damaged in one way or another. Probiotics can improve how the intestines function and keep the lining of the intestines healthy. Probiotics fight the bad bacteria and help to balance the good bacteria within the intestines. (WebMD)
Facts about Probiotics
- Probiotics are good bacteria or microorganisms that can mean the difference between having a healthy or unhealthy GI tract.
- Most people do not understand the importance of probiotics.
- With hundreds of types of probiotics available, little documentation exists as to which probiotic strains are best used with each disease or condition.
- It is suggested that adults take a least one billion cells daily.
- “Cells” in relation to amount of probiotics to take are also called “colony-forming units” or CFU’s.
- VSL#3 has at least 112.5 billion CFU’s.
- Probiotics work in three areas of the gut: the microbial barrier, chemical barrier and physical barrier.
What Is VSL#3?
VSL#3 is a high potency probiotic medical food that is clinically proven in the dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis (UC) and ileal pouch.
Facts about Probiotics and VSL#3
- VSL#3 is a proprietary formulation of a mix of 8 strains of live lactic acid bacteria, making it one of the few probiotics with this many strains.
- VSL#3 is at least 10 times more potent than the average probiotic.
- VSL#3 products must be refrigerated to maintain potency, are gluten-free, Kosher and Halal certified.
- VSL#3 differs from other probiotics in that it is a medical food, not a supplement, and therefore must be used under medical supervision.
- VSL#3 can colonize the gastrointestinal tract with beneficial bacteria, reduce gas and bloating from IBS and maintain remission in UC or an ileal pouch.
- VSL#3 is available at your local pharmacy and is kept behind the pharmacy counter in the refrigerator.
- VSL#3 come in several formulations and all require refrigeration to preserve potency:
- VSL#3 DS Double Strength packets containing 900 billion live bacteria. Due to the potency of this formulation, VSL#3 DS is a prescription only medical food.
- VSL#3 packets (lemon flavored and unflavored) containing 450 billion bacteria.
- VSL#3 JUNIOR packets containing 225 billion bacteria.
- VSL#3 capsules containing 112.5 billion bacteria.
VSL#3 IBS Friendly Salsa Ranchera Recipe
After making this IBS friendly Salsa Ranchera recipe, it will be hard to go back to the ordinary salsa after sampling this flavorful, easy to assemble, party-sized version!
Let’s make some salsa!
Wash the scallions.
Then slice the green parts of the scallion only.
Mmmmmm, cilantro.
Gently wash the cilantro.
Chop the cilantro and enjoy the wonderful fragrance of the leaves.
Add a little garlic infused extra virgin olive oil.
Add a little sea salt.
Add the juice of some freshly washed and squeezed limes.
Chop and add the fire roasted tomatoes to the bowl.
Mix it all together and enjoy!
Yum! It is so easy to make, delicious to eat and healthy for the digestive tract!
For more IBS-Friendly Recipes for the Whole Family visit the VSL#3 website.
VSL#3 Salsa Ranchera
Ingredients:
28 ounces fire-roasted, diced tomatoes with juice
6 scallions, green part only, thinly sliced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 teaspoons garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Juice of 2 limes
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to allow flavors to blend.
May be served warm or cold.
Nutrition Facts per serving:
45 calories, 2 g total fat, 350 mg sodium, 8 g carbohydrates, 12 g fiber, 2 g protein
Now there’s just one more thing I want to share with you and that’s the opportunity to win some very nice gifts!
VSL#3 Giveaway!!!
Want to win a cookware set worth $300 from Sur la Table, a leather recipe card book filled with custom recipe cards from VSL#3 and a copy of Flavor without FODMAPs Cookbook: Love the Food that Loves You Back by registered dietitian Patsy Catsos and a $50 pharmacy gift card to stock up on VSL#3?!!!!
- Entry periods for the VSL#3 Gastro-Nomical Giveaway accepted through November 20th, 2014 12:00 p.m. ET
- One winner (four winners total) will be chosen and announced on Facebook at around 12:00 p.m. EST each week on Thursday, October 30th, November 6th, 13th, and 20th.
- Winners are announced on the VSL#3 Facebook page
If you want to know more, visit the VSL#3 Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VSL3Probiotic.
VSL#3® products must be refrigerated to maintain potency and is available at your local pharmacy. Look for VSL#3® in the probiotic aisle of your local drug store and bring the card to the pharmacist as it is kept behind the pharmacy counter in the refrigerator. ?
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. VSL#3 is a medical food and must be used under medical supervision.
