So far--I have been using it about a week--I am very satisfied. I have tried a whole bunch of probiotics, and most of them made me bloat worse! So I tried this, based mostly on the brand (they've been dealing with digestive issues for as long as I can remember and I am not young). Anyway, I have read that lactobacillus gassei and bifidobacterium longum are the most effective against carbohydrate gas, and carbs are a staple of my diet. This product contains both. The other thing I read was that you just need to try different products, because when taking probiotics you may bloat more if the probiotic you buy contains strains that feed on whatever is causing your gas. I eat a lot of carbs, and this is the first one that did not increase my bloat. So you kind of have to "match up" the probiotic that works best with you particular diet, which involves trial and error. Unfortunate, because these products are not cheap.
As the day goes on I bloat some, but not nearly as much. Maybe 3/4 less! Also, just FYI--it works by breaking up the gas, which reduces the bloat, and makes you more comfortable, but you are going to pass the gas. Wherever you are! It's not like its uncontrollable--say if you are with friends or something you can definitely hold it in, but for me, in the first week, it has had this side effect. I am hoping as I take it longer this side effect will subside. Once the beneficial strains take over completely.
Also I have Irritable bowel syndrome and this probiotic tends to regulate things. I don't go as much as I used to, but when I do go, all is well. This is how the product works for me.
I have read that depending on the type of carb you eat in your diet, if the strain in the blend you buy "feasts" on it, it is likely bloat will increase.. Hence the need to just try different ones that work for you individually.
This works better for me than the Schiff digestive advantage. I think it is the blend of strains including the lactobacillus gasseri and the bifidobacterium longum. If you haven't tried it, it may work for you. It worked better for me than the very pricey "Align," or "Culturelle." But again, it is a matter of matching up your diet with the probiotic that works best for your diet.
