Align for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Review: Weeks 7 and 8
Agony of August–NOT
I finished the month of August without my annual bout of extreme IBS, either D or C, and credit the combination of IBS diet and the fact that I was taking the probiotic Align ™ for this amazing difference from the past “agony of August.”
Then, in the beginning of September, I had some C, the result of missing a dose of Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™. Just goes to show you that all elements need to be in place for your tummy or mine to be on its best behavior.
Elements of IBS Therapy
So, to remind readers of these reviews, to use a probiotic for best effect on IBS, you also need the following daily elements:
- An IBS diet that avoids all triggers, and
- A daily routine that includes increasing amounts of a Soluble Fiber Supplement, up to your stabilization point
- A suitable probiotic
For me, a year ago in July and August 2006 those things were not in place yet, and the probiotics I tried did not work for me. This year, I had both elements in place, and the Align ™ probiotic I reviewed worked great throughout August.
Conclusion of Align ™ Review
Align works as promised, at least on a well-prepared tummy. During the period I took Align ™ I also began to sample some fruits and vegetables, with good success except for broccoli.
The distribution system for Align ™ does not appear to be in place yet, and that affects the credibility of the main source of information, the Align ™web site. For example, the web site has a “sticker” update that says “Now available in pharmacies,” which is not true. There *may* be limited availability in warehouses, if a pharmacist knows to ask and is willing to order it. There is no distribution that has hit the shelves of a large chain pharmacy near me (CVS), in contrast to Digestive Advantage - IBS ™.
Promo Code for Align ™
The promo code to use for a $5 discount when ordering Align from the aligngi.com web site is AlignWOM. Look for a place on the web site called “promo code” and enter it there.
Align seemed to make my symptoms a lot worse. I finally discontinued use after 7 weeks. By that time I’d been miserable for quite a while.
A caveat though. I seem to fall into the overabundent flora group of IBS folk so I suspect I’d respond to antibiotics well, not probiotics. I didn’t know that two months ago though. Since my symptoms got so much worse, I suspect Align is heaven sent for people that need an increase in intestinal flora.
Comment by utenzi | September 10, 2007
Hi,Utenzi! You were doing Align on the same deal I was, to test the free samples and write about it on our blogs. It’s great to hear from you!
I’m sad that Align didn’t work for you. It may be, as you said, that your abundance of flora accounts for your getting worse.
Fifteen months ago I tried probiotics, as I was doing radical surgery on my diet, and they had no effect. The NSI probiotic at less than 15 strains and 35 billion Colony Forming Units (CFUs) didn’t work for me either.
I was rather surprised that Align did. It was icing on the cake (ooh, not a good metaphor!) with the rest of feeling better due to eliminating all the triggers from my diet (except 25% coffee) and adding SFS (Soluble Fiber Supplements). There was also finding the Soy-based High Fiber Meal Replacement from Best Life International. Not to mention bananas.
When you kept going for seven weeks, did you ask for and get help from the people at Align, or your doctor, or did you stick out by yourself? I checked your blog once or twice and concluded you had opted out.
Anyway, good to hear from you. Welcome to For My Tummy.
Best,
Tummyblogger
Comment by tummyblogger | September 11, 2007
Look at the contents for this product:
Other ingredients: microcystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose capsule USP grade, magnesium stearate, sugar, sodium caseinate, sodium citrate dihydrate, propyl gallate, FD&C blue #2
Is there anything more natural in a probiotic??
Thanks in advance for pointing me in the right direction, i am akready in Heathers SFS
Comment by diane garoni | August 15, 2008
Dear Diane,
To answer your question, first, “Is there anything more natural in a probiotic?” Well, yes. The Korean national food, Kimchi, or fermented cabbage, has probiotic properties, as does sauerkraut–also fermented cabbage. The culture for forming yogurt from milk is a natural probiotic. You would need to take whichever form of natural probiotic on a daily basis, and probably would need to eat a lot of it, so that a small amount would reach the large intestine (colon).
On your implied concern, that the ingredients you list are artificial and unhealthy, I can say this. What most of these do is provide a dissolving shell around the probiotic, so that it stays as a shell around the probiotic good bacteria and carries it safely past the stomach acids and digestive process of the small intestine. Then the probiotic can be released into the large intestine.
The FD&C blue #2 may be an allergen to a very very few people. It is a dye, and gives the Align capsule its distinctive color.
Digestive Advantage is a non-dye-containing probiotic, also with a surrounding capsule with some similar ingredients to your list.
In addition, NSI 15-35 probiotic (VitaCost.com)–which I didn’t think was very effective–has similar encapsulating ingredients. They add a warning–because one source is lactobacillus–that capsules may contain trace residual milk.
Also, Digestive Advantage-IBS Capsules are fine, but the chewable form often found in pharmacies does contain Sucralose, trade named Splenda.
So reading labels is wise. Taking a probiotic is also wise.
Thanks for sending in your concern,and
All the best,
Tummyblogger
Comment by tummyblogger | August 17, 2008