Should You Take Probiotics Everyday
A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, its safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily. Its important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.
The Manufacturing And Shipping Process
In order to maximize the health benefits we get from probiotics, the manufacturing and shipping process has to follow temperature guidelines as well. This includes everything from the growing process to the assembly line to packaging to distribution.
Realistically, there may be times when the cooling chain is broken. Some manufacturers account for this loss by adding extra bacteria to ensure the product still has the amount of probiotics listed on the label. Although, this is hard to guarantee and not backed by science.
When looking to purchase probiotics, look at the expiration date. Avoid buying those that have been sitting on the refrigerator or shelf for long periods of time.
In most cases, youre better off purchasing a product that does not require refrigeration and comes in a moisture- and heat-resistant package. That way you can bypass worries about the manufacturing process, the cooling chain, and remembering to refrigerate after purchasing.
How To Store Your Probiotics
If this has you guessing whether you should be stashing your probiotics in the fridge or the pantry, well, dont read into it too much.
A probiotic that needs to be refrigerated will clearly say as much on its label, Axe says. Plus, youll find it in a refrigerator at the store you purchase it from. The shelf-stable probiotics, meanwhile, will be found on store shelves with other supplements. When in doubt, you can always refer to the label for specific storage instructions, he notes. A good place to stash that must-be-refrigerated probiotic supplement? Right next to foods that contain living probiotics, like yogurt.
Also worth noting: Probiotics are some of the most sensitive dietary supplements, according to dietitian Wendy Lord, R.D., a contributor to the health professional network Health Reporter. This means that even the shelf-stable ones should be stored carefully according to their directions. Because theyre so sensitive to environmental factors like sunlight, oxygen, and moisture, their packaging is intentional, so you shouldnt transfer them to a plastic bag to tote around with you or store them in, say, a medicine cabinet in your bathroom that might get steamy.
Recommended Reading: Best Cat Food With Probiotics
What Destroys Or Makes Probiotics Go Bad Or Die
In the recent past, studies show that the contents of some store-bought probiotics brands contained no viable probiotic bacteria at all.
At same time, tests by ConsumerLab.com found that out of 19 probiotics for people, 5 contained only 16% to 56% of the listed amounts of organisms. Levels of organisms in probiotics for pets were so low as to question their usefulness.
So what destroy the good bacteria in probiotic supplements?
Prescript-Assist outlines some factors that determine the loss of freshness and viable cultures over time of a typical LAB-based probiotic.
All Good Bacteria Act As Probiotics
There are trillions of bacteria in your intestinal tract, and we are still identifying and understanding their role in the human body. Many of these bacteria have been identified as “good,” but not all of them are the same. A true “probiotic” is one that can help to colonize the body with helpful bacteria.
A good way to think of the probiotic is like a gardener responsible for identifying the “good” and removing the “bad.” Not all strains of bacteria have the ability to make it to the colon to play a crucial role in fermenting fiber and colonizing helpful bacteria. The key is to look for strains like those found in the Silver Fern Ultimate Probiotic that have been proven to colonize the gut.
You May Like: Califia Farms Probiotic Dairy Free Yogurt
Why Is Humidity Important
The third factor influencing a probiotics viability is humidity .
Youve seen how the amount of water in a probiotic cell is key to its preservation. The reason the water in these cells is removed is precisely to enable them to be preserved for months at a time. Now, when an element with very little water comes into contact with moisture-rich air, natural exchanges take place to rebalance the water content of the two elements. In other words, the low-water element tends to absorb any surplus water in the air until both elements have the same water content. Your dehydrated probiotic containing very little water is therefore likely to absorb the water from the atmosphere in which its placed. The more damp the atmosphere, the more this will happen, and the more water the probiotic absorbs, the more fragile it becomes. A number of studies have shown that humidity significantly accelerates damage to probiotics , causing browning reactions and the appearance of Maillard reaction products. Such damage drastically reduces the probiotics viability.
This third factor poses a real conundrum because the fridge is a damper environment than ambient air. Its therefore important to choose probiotics that come in very low moisture capsules , and packaged in a sealed container or in individual blister-packs. If you want to take maximum precautions, you should place your probiotics on the highest shelf in the fridge where its drier.
Do All Probiotic Strains Need To Be Refrigerated
Not all probiotics require refrigeration, but they do need to be protected from heat. How they are manufactured also plays a role. Freeze-dried probiotics, for example, often have longer shelf-life as they are in a dormant state.
Only the probiotics that include specific strains with this trait and/or have a delivery mechanism that is not temperature resistant need to be refrigerated. Specific strains of probiotics have different sensitivity levels to heat and environmental factors.
Soil-based probiotics are an example of probiotics that do not need to be refrigerated. These probiotics have been used to ferment foods and are more resistant to the natural elements, meaning they dont need refrigeration.
Don’t Miss: Garden Of Life Shelf Stable Probiotics
Are My Probiotics Still Good If Not Refrigerated
There is a lot of debate on whether or not probiotics need to be refrigerated. The main reason for this debate is that probiotics are living organisms and, as such, are sensitive to heat and light.
However, many commercial probiotic products do not require refrigeration and can be stored at room temperature. So, the answer to your question depends on the particular probiotic you are using. If you are unsure, it is always best to check with the manufacturer or your healthcare provider.
Refrigerated Probiotics Vs Non
Shelf-stable probiotics are non-refrigerated probiotics.
This means that they can survive room-temperature environments much better than refrigerated probiotics.
Theyll still keep their original potency level on the shelf for around 2 years from the date of manufacture.
These are great if you find yourself always on-the-go.
Perhaps you have a busy lifestyle and need to take your probiotics in a travel bag, to the hotel, gym, and other places that may not have a refrigerator.
While you obviously dont want to leave them in your car in the middle of the summer, you can feel confident knowing theyll benefit you even without keeping them in a fridge.
Then, are refrigerated probiotics better than their non-refrigerated counterparts?
Theres really no way to answer this.
Certain strains of probiotic bacteria require refrigeration, while others do not.
However, a non-refrigerated strain may be just the one you need in order to treat your specific condition.
The factor thats going to play the biggest role in efficacy, is the quality of the product you choose.
You can usually tell the difference between them by obviously reading the label, but also looking at the packaging.
As previously mentioned, if they were stored in the refrigerated section of the store or shipped with an ice pack, its likely a refrigerated type of probiotic.
Most high-quality probiotics also come in moisture-resistant and heat-resistant packaging.
Donât Miss: Best Probiotic For Preventing Bv
Read Also: Best Probiotics For Over 60
Can Unrefrigerated Probiotics Make You Sick
Although probiotics should be refrigerated, they do not spoil or die-off quickly at room temperature. Although probiotics should be refrigerated, they do not spoil or die-off quickly at room temperature. They may be left at room temperature for days and even several weeks without a great loss of viable organisms.
Also Check: Glowbiotics Probiotic Instant Resurfacing Pads
Probiotics That Dont Require Refrigeration Are More Convenient
You need to store a refrigerated probiotic in the refrigerator. What do you do when you travel? How do you know that it hasnt been sitting in a warm warehouse for hours or days before being delivered to your doorstep? Are you going to remember to take it regularly when its tucked away on a refrigerator shelf?
Probonix doesnt have these issues. Take it with you on the road. Mix it in your water bottle. Keep it on your nightstand, the kitchen counter, in your briefcase, or anywhere else that will make it easy to take regularly. After all, your probiotic supplement isnt going to do a lot of good if you dont remember to take it, and regular probiotic supplementation is what matters the most for keeping your gut healthy.
People who liked this blog also read these:
Also Check: Best Vegan Probiotic For Women
How Do You Know If Probiotics Are Working
Signs Your Probiotics Are Working
When you take a high-quality probiotic supplement, you may notice several positive changes in your body, ranging from improved digestion and more energy, to improved mood and clearer skin. Oftentimes, the first and most immediate change individuals notice is improved digestion.
Can Probiotic Supplements Expire
Like all living things, probiotics eventually dieor expireat some point. And because probiotics need to be alive to work, considering the expiry date of your probiotics is especially important.
When looking at a probiotic supplement, you’ll see that each one contains a specific number of organisms per capsule. For example, one probiotic may have 5 billion colony-forming units per dose, while another has 25 billion CFUs. But, as Pedre points out, those numbers only represent what’s in the capsule up to their expiration. After that, the probiotic numbers go down and the supplement becomes less effective over time.
While this is true no matter how you store your probiotics, the less closely you follow the storage instructions, the more quickly it happens. For example, if your probiotic calls for refrigeration but you leave it out on the counter in the middle of the summer, the heat and moisture from humidity can kill some, or all, of the bacteria, even before the expiration date.
If your probiotic doesn’t have an expiration or best-by date, most supplements are formulated to last at least two years beyond the manufacturing date . If you like your probiotic, you’ll probably use it well before two years though.
Also Check: Which Probiotics Are Best For Acne
So Why Is This Information Important
Well, probiotics that require refrigeration contain probiotic bacteria that are in the growth phase. These probiotics are already replicating and consuming nutrients. Through refrigeration, the metabolism of these bacteria is slowed, so they consume nutrients more slowly. This effectively extends the short shelf life of the product. Without refrigeration, these probiotics progress through the growth phase at a much faster pace, so they would enter the death phase in a matter of weeks, or even days. Dead probiotics cant help anyone. With refrigeration, metabolism is slowed enough to provide a shelf life of several months.
Unfortunately, probiotic bacteria in the growth phase are busy consuming nutrients and trying to replicate, so they are far less likely to survive a trip through the stomach acid, as they are most vulnerable to environmental harm during this stage.
Probonix does not require refrigeration because it contains probiotic bacteria that are in the lag phase. These bacteria do not begin to actively divide until they reach their destination. This means that they can safely sit at room temperature because there is no metabolism to slow down. This also allows for a drastic increase in shelf life over refrigerated probiotics.
Probiotic supplements that keep their bacteria in the lag phase will have much better survival rates than their refrigerated counterparts.
How To Determine Whether Probiotics Should Be Refrigerated
Generally, most supplement manufacturers say on the label whether probiotics are shelf stable or require refrigeration.
If there are no specific storage instructions listed on the label, your probiotic is likely shelf stable and doesnt need refrigerating.
Another way to determine whether you should refrigerate your probiotics is to consider how they were stored upon purchase.
For example, probiotics that require refrigeration are typically found in the refrigerated section of the store or pharmacy. Alternatively, if you buy a supplement online and its shipped in an ice pack or insulated thermal bag, its likely best to refrigerate it once it arrives.
summary
Most probiotic supplements provide storage instructions on the label. Probiotics that are stored in the refrigerated section of the store or shipped with an ice pack may also require refrigeration.
You May Like: Optima Women’s Probiotic 90 Billion
More Colony Forming Units
Some believe the answer is loading probiotic products with even larger numbers of probiotic bacteria and simply anticipating that the majority will not survive. Unfortunately, this raises the important concern of knowing the exact dose ingested. How will this practice of adding more affect those who have a need for very specific levels and can have problems if they take too much or too little? Will these mega dose probiotics carry the potential of harm for certain segments of users?
What Does 100 Billion Cfu Mean
100 billion CFU means â100 billion colony forming unitsââ which is a fancy way of saying â100 billion probiotic cells. Most probiotic supplements range from 1 billion CFU, all the way up to 400+ billion CFU. You might think that more probiotics is better, but that isnât always the case. Just as with many medications , itâs important to increase the dosage slowly, sometimes over a period of months. A great starter dose is Less than 5 billion CFU.
Recommended Reading: Can Probiotics Help Immune System
Recommended Reading: Do Probiotics Help Dogs With Allergies
Whats The Best Way To Store Probiotics
While you donât have to refrigerate shelf-stable probiotics, there are some things you can do to make them last longer:
- Keep your probiotics in their original package or bottle. Some materials, like glass or certain plastics, are better at blocking out humidity and other environmental factors that can kill the bacteria and reduce the effectiveness of your probiotic. You might not think anything of it, but manufacturers carefully choose their packaging to optimize shelf-life, so donât transfer probiotics to pill containers or plastic baggies.
- Store them in a cool, dry place.
- Make sure theyâre tightly sealed.
- Avoid storing them in a medicine cabinet in a bathroom where you shower. The heat and humidity from the hot water can kill the probiotics.
These tips helps maintain a safe temperature and protects the probiotics from their two major enemies: heat and moisture.
Don’t Probiotics Need To Be Refrigerated
It depends. Some probiotics do require refrigeration because the bacteria will die if left at room temperature. If they can’t survive room temperature, however, how can they survive the harsh acidic environment of the stomach? They can’t.
It used to be commonly understood that “living bacteria” was the “best.” Research has come a long way, and we now know there are certain strains, like the bacillus, that can survive the stomach and make it all the way to the intestines where they are needed most.
Unfortunately, the idea was so prevalent that many people today are still leery of an unrefrigerated probiotic. Many companies still offer refrigerated probiotics, further perpetuating the myth. However, the most important thing to look for in a quality probiotic are strains that have been tested to survive the digestive system, which means they need to survive outside the refrigerator as well.
Don’t Miss: Align Probiotic Help With Constipation
How Fermentation Boosts Beauty Benefits
Whats all the hype about fermentation and probiotics in beauty products? Cant I just have my kimchi and kefir and call it a day? Sure! You can. But, with all industry eyes on fermented topical products, why would you deprive your skin of so many juicy benefits?
When you add more biodiversity to the microbiome party, your microbial ecosystem becomes healthier. Aging and a variety of skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis are shown to demonstrate low ranges of biodiversity on the surface of the skin. A 2020 study found that after just 4 weeks of applying a topical oil or ferment-containing serum, the bacterial community that lives on the skin becomes more beneficial as younger probiotic strains are regularly introduced.
Fermented probiotic strains serve your skin in the following ways:
- Boost ingredient penetration into the skin
- Concentrate ingredients to deliver benefits in a single drop or pump of formula
- Absorb deeper into the skin for higher efficacy
- Longer-lasting hydration and moisturization
Donât Miss: How Often To Give Baby Probiotics
Damaging Effects Of Manufacturing Process
As mentioned earlier, 0ne of the major concerns in probiotic viabilty is heat. Too much contact with heat will kill the delicate bacteria, whether the exposure is during manufacture or storage. According to some manufacturers, microencapsulation is one technique that attempts to improve the viability while in the process.
However, industry experts have voiced skepticism, stating that common species like L. acidophilus, L. casei, B. bifidum will always require refrigeration, regardless of these protective measures. In fact, the microencapsulation process itself is known to destroy probiotic bacteria. The concern is that these novel technologies are simply not sufficient to overcome the inherent vulnerability of non-refrigerated acidophilus and Lactobacillus probiotics, and that more resistant species may be the only viable solution.
Don’t Miss: Should You Take Probiotics Daily
