Are you taking high doses of probiotics every single day? Billions and billions of CFU’s (colony forming units)? Not sure? Think you might be because you eat yogurt often? Think again. If you’re not 100% gluten-free, probiotic supplementation could help you digest gluten.

As more and more studies reveal the nature of the human biome, the collection of tens of trillions of microscopic critters that live in our bodies rent-free, and outnumber our human cells by at least a factor of ten, researchers are now armed with data that demonstrates certain bacteria strains’ ability to digest gluten.

In the infancy of human biome decoding, ‘way back in 2008,’ a study published in Clinical and Experimental Immunology concluded Bifidobacterium lactis bacteria inhibit the toxic effects induced by wheat gliadin.

In other words, what this promising (albeit small study; the researches advocated further testing) suggested was that this specific strain of friendly bacteria helps break down one of the major proteins found in wheat that is responsible for many symptoms of gluten sensitivity.

But even if you’re eating yogurt regularly (read this about yogurt on another gluten-free blog), the amount of probiotics might not be enough to colonize your gut with enough friendly bacteria.

Traditional cultures, lacking probiotic supplements of the modern age, innately knew that fermented foods, such as sea vegetables and miso paste (an ingredient in Miracle Noodle’s Miso Marvellous instant noodle soup; only 40 calories) are good for the gut.

One Miracle Noodle customer who is a reader of this gluten-free blog recently emailed us and told us how he started taking at least 1-2 multi-strain probiotic capsules, each with 10 billion CFU’s. He started doing this a year ago, he claimed. Prior to taking the probiotics, he reported getting chronic sinus infections, bloating in the belly, congestion and mental lethargy; lots of caffeine was required in order for him to function at work.

Today, our happy Miracle Noodle customer writes that after a year-plus of religiously taking probiotics, in other words, never skipping a day, even while on vacation, he doesn’t suffer at all from congestion or runny, itchy, watery eyes, which were frequent symptoms post-gluten consumption.

Does that mean you can eat all the gluten you want and as long as you are supplying your gut with enough probiotics to fend off the bad bacteria (researchers currently say that the optimal balance is 80 percent good bacteria)?

Probably not. The only way to make sure you don’t experience gluten sensitivities is to eat a 100% gluten-free diet.

But the new research is promising. Even those with autoimmune disorders from gluten, i.e. Celiac’s Disease, can benefit from probiotic supplementation.

Miracle Noodle, although founded by a doctor, Jonathan Carp, M.D., is not in the business to recommend which brand of supplements to take, nor which strains would benefit your individual biochemistry. We cannot diagnose what ails you or what would make you better.

But the research is out there. It is promising. After years of suffering from gluten allergies and sensitivities, we are perhaps about to enter a new paradigm where our general physicians may prescribe probiotics for us. In the meantime, consult with a trusted health professional who has a thorough understanding of functional medicine and nutrition.

To your health,

The Miracle Noodle Team