Anyone here use a yogurt maker?

[wifey]

Hi everyone just a few questions for you, yes I know it's been a while I'm off with SF at the moment (loads of us in our mail centre have been afflicted with it would it hurt to get antibacterial hand soap and sanitiser and clean the place) and I'm on treatment for IBS too so not feeling that great.

I have been reading about the benefits probiotics can give someone like me (still trying to get my IBS under control) and wondered how easy is it to make your own probiotic yogurts ? Do you need to heat up the yogurt maker a few times before you use them? What's worked best for those of you who have one and where did you get yours from. Prices can vary on the internet at the moment I know but a rough idea of first outlay and and subsequent cost will help me work out the price per pot compared to the supermarket versions.
For those of you who also have IBS what works best for you? I'm on Buscopan tablets and peppermint oil capsules and still trying to get my dosage right with the help of my GP and I still need to ask him about the probiotic yogurts next week after I have more blood tests done. Any help is greatly appreciated so TIA.

 

[CustardTart]

I use the simplest yoghurt making kit around - EasiYo. It's foolproof with minimal faffing about. Take a look on the Lakeland website - I think most of the flavours are probiotic and their Greek yoghurt is delicious...

So sorry to hear about your IBS. I was diagnosed with that years ago and had the same treatment as you but it didn't work and I carried on living with it until I discovered a 'cure' by accident. DH and I wanted to lose weight so tried Atkins which meant I stopped eating carbs like bread and pasta etc. Turns out I was wheat-intolerant the whole time and cutting out those carbs stopped what the Drs thought was IBS...

Fingers crossed you feel better soon...

 

[wifey]

Thanks CustardTart it's nice to know there are others out there who have been through this too I was looking at "Easiyo" and noticed that it can contain up to 10 billion of the probiotics compared to 5-10 million in the shop bought ones. The Bio packs including the ABC cultures looks to me like good value for money since it will always be as fresh if not fresher than the shop bought alternative. How do you keep yours once they are made? I was thinking about getting some of those little pots from the £ shops with the screw on tops if they would be okay. I did see Vita-yo on the Idea lWorld TV channel but wasn't so sure about it they didn't seem to offer as much choice to me.
My GP is looking into "celiac disease" which I think could be possible... wheat products with high gluten contents don't like me, and he's asked for blood tests on Thursday to work out if I have this. I don't know yet whether I should be worried about it or just deal with it once the results come back next week. I may have to rethink my menus if this comes back as a fact but I can deal with it once I know one way or the other. I just want to get myself settled down and enjoy things again and get back to my normal routine.
Right I'm off to look at the link you posted and I will see what DH says at the weekend, it's a pity these are not more widely available on the high street I would have it up and going in no time. He did look in town before he came home some shops are charging almost £3 per packet for the mixes so I dread to thing what they would charge for the start up set.

 

[CustardTart]

Thanks CustardTart it's nice to know there are others out there who have been through this too I was looking at "Easiyo" and noticed that it can contain up to 10 billion of the probiotics compared to 5-10 million in the shop bought ones. The Bio packs including the ABC cultures looks to me like good value for money since it will always be as fresh if not fresher than the shop bought alternative. How do you keep yours once they are made? I was thinking about getting some of those little pots from the £ shops with the screw on tops if they would be okay. I did see Vita-yo on the Idea lWorld TV channel but wasn't so sure about it they didn't seem to offer as much choice to me.

I have a set of the screw top jars from EasiYo themselves - came as part of a kit. Tho the yoghurt doesn't last very long as I use it in cooking as well as eating with fruit. TBH I buy from QVC here's a link. I find the shows an absolute inspiration - the demonstrator has so many great ideas! I don't know if they work out cheaper but I prefer to buy in bulk so it suits me. I would guess the Ideal World one is similar but I detest IW (and their crappy customer service) so would def recommend QVC... And order via Quidco for 5% cashback!

My GP is looking into "celiac disease" which I think could be possible... wheat products with high gluten contents don't like me, and he's asked for blood tests on Thursday to work out if I have this. I don't know yet whether I should be worried about it or just deal with it once the results come back next week. I may have to rethink my menus if this comes back as a fact but I can deal with it once I know one way or the other. I just want to get myself settled down and enjoy things again and get back to my normal routine.

Try not to worry too much as that's actually what I have. I only discovered it recently as my future son-in-law (a Dr) urged me to have a blood test based on my symptoms. I now have to check everything for gluten - including lipbalms!!! As I've been avoiding wheat/rice for years, I found the switch to gluten-free not too hard - I think feeling so much better has been a big incentive to behave myself. I do lapse every now and again and have a reaction but it's nothing like it used to be and the lapses get fewer and further between...

Good luck, hun. I hope you can sort out what's going on with you asap...
Best wishes,
Karen xxx

PS: I've just spotted they are selling the EasiYo maker half price at Lakeland. Click here...