I am thankful that I can run, anytime, anywhere. This is something that I do not take for granted because I know from personal experience that not everyone has this liberty. I am lucky enough to not suffer from chronic gastro issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis (UC), but my stomach is less than perfect. I am prone to stomach viruses, food poisoning, and even just nerves affect my stomach. Thankfully this is not any everyday occurrence and not something I have to worry about on a constant basis like my workout buddy who suffers from IBS.
Running alone can stimulate gastro issues as any runner knows so when someone suffers from a chronic gastro condition it is even harder for them. I ran the NYC Marathon last year and despite practicing my nutritional intake prior to the marathon during my long runs I suffered with stomach issues the entire time. I literally had to stop at a porta potty at least 6 times, which added at least 10 minutes to my finish time. This is a rare occurrence for me, but for sufferers of IBS or UC this can be a constant battle and not just during a run. IBS is a gastro issue that affects the large intestine and commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. UC is a chronic gastro issue that causes inflammation and ulcers of the colon that leads to bleeding, production of pus, diarrhea and severe abdominal discomfort.
After the marathon I knew I needed to get my stomach issues under control. So I did my research and discovered that a daily dose of probiotics could be helpful in managing gastro issues. I have been taking probiotics daily ever since and my stomach is thanking me now. While I won’t say that my stomach issues have completely vanished, they are a thousand times better.
VSL#3 is a high-potency probiotic medical food that is clinically proven in the dietary management of IBS, UC and ileal pouch. Not all probiotics are created the same and 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. There are several formulations of VSL#3 and all of them require refrigeration to preserve potency:
- VSL#3 DS Double Strength (DS) packets containing 900 billion live bacteria. Due to the potency of this formula it can only be obtained by prescription.
- VSL#3 capsules containing 112.5 billion bacteria.
- VSL#3 packets (unflavored and lemon) containing 450 billion bacteria.
I personally like to drink my probiotics in my water. It is the best way for me to make sure I take them on a daily basis. To learn more about VSL#3 and how it works you can watch this short video. You can also check out VSL#3 on their website or on Facebook.
Do you want to try VSL#3? Right now you can enter the Discover the Difference with VSL#3 Giveaway for a chance to win a $500 AMEX gift card or you could be a runner-up and take home a 2-month supply of VSL#3. Enter here now because the giveaway ends on 7/21. If you want to try VSL#3 now you can also save $5 on any purchase of VSL#3 on their website with the coupon code “DOCTOR”.
Do you suffer from chronic gastro issues or any stomach issues? Do you take probiotics?
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by VSL#3. Post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
VSL#3® is a high potency probiotic medical food that’s clinically proven in the dietary management of IBS, ulcerative colitis, and ileal pouch. To learn more visit www.vsl3.com and LIKE the brand on Facebook.
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.
