Can Expired Probiotics Make You Sick

Can I Get Probiotics From Food

You can absolutely increase beneficial microbes in your body from the foods you eat. Certain foods have probiotics in them and can benefit the health of your microbiome.

These foods can be introduced into your diet at any point of the day. You may even be regularly eating them now and not realize that they contain probiotics. You will want to check the food label for live and active cultures. A few suggestions for just some of the probiotic-rich foods you can add to your diet and some times to try them include:

For breakfast, try:

• Powders.
• Liquids.

Probiotic supplements may be combined with a prebiotic. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates that feed the microorganisms in your gut. Basically, prebiotics are the food source for the good bacteria. They help feed the good bacteria and keep it healthy. Prebiotics include inulin, pectin and resistant starches.

When you have a supplement that combines a probiotic and prebiotic, its called a synbiotic.

Does Acidophilus Need To Be Refrigerated

Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak

Acidophilus is a type of bacteria that is naturally present in the intestines. It’s one of many live microorganisms, called probiotics, that are thought to promote health and guard against illnesses like eczema, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections.

Used to make foods such as yogurt and kefir, acidophilus is found in dietary supplements. Most commonly sold in tablet, capsule, caplet, pearls, or pill form, acidophilus, and other probiotics are also available in a suppository, liquid, and powder form.

If you are looking for an acidophilus product, you may be aware that some products need to be refrigerated, while others are shelf-stable. Or you may have purchased a probiotic but the label doesn’t indicate whether it needs refrigeration.

Further adding to the confusion, some manufacturers say that their product is shelf-stable, but still recommend refrigerating it. And does temperature even matter, since when you ingest a probiotic, it’s entering a warm environment ? Here’s what you need to know:

Do I Need To Take Probiotics After I Take Antibiotics

Antibiotic medications are often needed to fight an infection. However, while antibiotics are killing the bad bacteria, they are also knocking out the good bacteria in your body. Some people develop conditions like diarrhea after taking an antibiotic. In other people, this may allow for really bad bacteria to take over and populate the gut, such as with C. diff. Some research has shown a positive connection between taking probiotics after an antibiotic and relief from diarrhea. This hasnt been proven yet and doesnt work for everyone.

The thought behind adding probiotics back into your body after taking an antibiotic is that it can repopulate the good bacteria that was destroyed by the antibiotics and re-boot your system. The extra good bacteria helps repopulate your gut and fight off any remaining bad bacteria. Many people feel that adding in probiotics wont hurt, might help you feel better a little faster and prevent diarrhea.

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What Should I Know About Probiotics For Cats

1.) Maintain Quality Control: Previous studies found many commercial probiotics had labeling errors and forgot to list specific microorganisms. There were misspellings, and specific numbers of bacteria were not listed. Also, further comparison test report some probiotics didnt meet viable organism claims. They contain organisms without a probiotic effect or even included potentially pathogenic microorganisms. It is extremely important to discuss dietary supplement, including probiotics, with your veterinarian prior to selecting a product.

2.) Avoid Probiotic Use in Immunocompromised Patients: When considering probiotics in cats that are immune-compromised such as intestinal mucosa, proceed with caution, and consult a veterinarian.

3.) Select a Highly Regarded Probiotic Strain: Select a recognizable strain designation which is reputable in studies.

4.) Susceptible or Resistant to Antibiotics: Probiotics, like other bacteria, are sensitive or resistant to administered antibiotics. Talk with your veterinarian if the probiotic youve selected has been studied with the antibiotic your veterinarian recommends.

How Should I Dispose Of Expired Vitamins

Expired vitamins should not go in the trash can especially If you have pets or kids in the house. They should be drained down the toilet as well because you do not want to contaminate the water for aquatic life.

According to the FDA, expired supplements or vitamins should be discarded in the following ways:

• Mix the expired vitamins or supplements with cat litter or used coffee grounds.

• Transfer this mixture to a plastic bag or any other sealed bag.

• Toss the bag in the trash. You can also check to see If your city has a special site for the disposal of hazardous material.

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Can You Drink Yakult And Other Yogurt Drinks Past Their Expiry Dates

The Yakult website recommends that Yakult not be drunk after its best before date. This is based on the quality of the drink, including its taste, and it says that it’s best “to discard any remaining product after the “best if used by” date.”

This is probably because the live microorganisms in the drink may no longer be alive.

Remember that probiotics are living bacteria and that for these beneficial bacteria to do its job, it needs to be alive when consumed. Any live microorganisms that survived past this due date may also be significantly less than originally estimated. This means you are not getting the health benefits you think you getting when you drink it when it is expired.

What Does The Research Say

Probiotic doses are listed as colony forming units , which means the number of live strains in each dose.

Different brands will have different suggested doses and uses, so its important to understand the information listed.

Recent research found that the type of microbe strain, health condition, product formula, dose, and the quality of the product are all important for effectiveness.

The condition or symptom youre trying to treat can affect how the probiotic works and when youll see results. If youre taking a probiotic for general gut or immune health, youll need to take it awhile to see results.

On the other hand, if youre taking a probiotic for relief from diarrhea, you may see faster results.

For example, has shown that, when used in combination with rehydration therapy, treatment with probiotics can reduce the duration and frequency of infectious diarrhea in as little as 2 days.

Another study demonstrated that people who consumed a high-dose probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus fermentium for 12 weeks experienced significantly less upper respiratory infections and flu-like symptoms compared to a placebo group.

Plus, it was shown that the probiotic drink boosted the immune system of the participants by increasing levels of antibodies including sIgA in the gut after 12 weeks.

Depending on what youre taking probiotics for, you may see symptom improvements anywhere between a few days to a few months.

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Can You Drink Yogurt Drinks Like Yakult Past Its Expiration Date

Better check that “Best Before” date!

You may already know that the expiry date is different from the best-before date.

Expiration dates are dates when the food will no longer have the quality you expect. These are commonly placed on canned food.

Best before dates are the “recommended last consumption date” because the quality of the food beyond this date may have already changed. These are dates commonly found on freshly packaged food and other highly perishable food.

For both kinds of pre-packaged food, these dates are estimates and do not mean that the food has gone bad and is no longer edible. It just may not taste as flavorful or have the same nutritional value anymore as it originally did. That’s why for food safety reasons, it’s best that expired food should not be consumed anymore.

However, what about food with probiotics? Probioticsare microscopic living organisms that when consumed, have a beneficial effect on your body. The most common of these live microorganisms are bacteria, and of these bacteria, some are beneficial such as the Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota that you can find in a bottle of Yakult.

This is why such drinks need to be refrigerated after purchase to prevent these beneficial organisms from dying before it’s consumed. This is also the reason why it should not be added to hot or even warm beverages which can kill off these beneficial bacteria.

Can Dogs Eat Yogurt And Other Foods With Probiotics

Some human foods, like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut, have live cultures that may benefit some dogs.

Be sure to read the labels of human foods carefully to select plain, unsweetened varieties that do not contain artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, which is toxic to animals.

Limit quantities of probiotic foods for dogs to these ranges:

• 1 teaspoon per day for small dogs

• 2 teaspoons per day for medium-sized dogs

• 3 teaspoons per day for large dogs or giant-breed dogs

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Does Creatine Affect You Sexually

Some body builders use creatine to help them lift more during their training to get better results. While there are anecdotal stories about how it lowers libido, no evidence exists as of yet that creatine has a negative impact on a mans sexual health.

Can You Test Probiotic Supplement Potency

Some sources recommend testing probiotic capsules for potency by opening them andleaving them to grow in milk or another medium. While this may tell you if the probiotic organisms areactive or not, it doesnt tell you how many CFUs are still viable.

If the probioticsare near the expiration dateand were stored appropriately, there should be some good bacteria remaining. However, they may notbe as potent as fresh product.

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Consumers Are In The Dark

Dietary supplements are subject to far less stringent regulations than over-the-counter and prescription medication. The FDA classifies them differently from drugs. So the companies that make and sell them arent required to prove that theyre safe for their intended use before selling them, or that they work as advertised, or even that their packages contain what the labels say they do.

And because of those lax policies, supplements that make their way into retail stores, doctors offices, and hospitals can pose a number of potential problems. They can be ineffective, contaminated with microbes or heavy metals, dangerously mislabeled, or intentionally spiked with illegal or prescription drugs. They can also cause harmful side effects by themselves and interact with prescription medication in ways that make those drugs less effective.

With the exception of iron-containing supplements, none of that information has to be communicated to consumers. Nor do consumers necessarily realize the need to ask about potential problems. According to a 2015 nationally representative Consumer Reports survey, almost half of American adults think that supplement makers test their products for efficacy, and more than half believe that manufacturers prove their products are safe before selling them.

When To Give Cats Probiotics

• Bacterial Imbalances. Infections, inflammations, and antibiotics can cause bacterial imbalances and trigger digestive disorders such as vomiting, persistent diarrhea, and lack of appetite. Adding a probiotic supplement will help restore balance in a cats digestive system.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Pancreatitis. Both inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis are complex in terms of treatment and require a multimodal approach.
• Prolonged Use of Medications. Antibiotics are not the only medication that affects the microorganisms balance within the GI tract. Steroids can have the same effect, especially if used for longer periods.
• Stress. Stress is closely linked with diarrhea as it causes a nervous tummy prone to upsets. Kittens and senior cats are more prone to stress and stress-induced diarrhea episodes.
• Sudden Food Changes. All dietary changes should be smooth and gradual as sudden diet changes harm gut health. The diet transition period can be made even smoother by adding a probiotic supplement product.
• Intestinal Parasites. The presence of intestinal parasites affects the balance within the cats digestive tract. Once the worms are eliminated, you can use probiotics to restore the guts default settings.

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How To Ensure Your Probiotic Will Work

The most important way to make sure the probiotic you choose will work is to find a reputable brand and follow the label directions suggested on how to take it. Each brand will have specific information based on the product.

Manufacturers are constantly trying to improve probiotic effectiveness by using different methods such as microencapsulation to protect probiotics from the environment, increasing chances of survival and potency.

tips for effective probiotic use

For a probiotic to work for you, it should be:

• Good quality . Choose one that shows proof of effectiveness.
• Stored correctly. Read labels and store as the label states .
• Taken as directed. Read labels and take as suggested .
• Able to survive in the body. The probiotic must be able to survive the trip through stomach acid and bile and colonize your gut.
• Safe for you. Read the label and note added ingredients. Watch out for added fillers and binders which might cause reactions.

A typical label will have the name of the specific probiotic , the dose in CFU, an expiration date, and instructions for use and storage.

The expiration date is important because it should have the use by date, which is how long the product will have live cultures.

Avoid products that list expiration as time of manufacture. The cultures may not be active or be less than listed by the time you buy it.

Company Policies And Expiration Dates

Centrum: The company features an expiration date on the product label based on the least stable ingredient in the product.

NOW Foods: NOW Foods also assign an expiration date on the products label.

Swanson Vitamins: This company either brands the product with a manufacture date or best-by date.

If the label is printed with a manufacture date, the company recommended consuming the product within 2-3 years except for probiotics and liquids which should be consumed within a year

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Can You Overdose On Probiotics Side Effects Include Bloating And Gas

• You cannot overdose on probiotics to the point where it causes death.
• Common side effects of too many probiotics can lead to bloating, gas, and nausea.
• People at greater risk of dangerous side effects are those with a weakened immune system or serious illness, in which case you should consult a doctor before taking large amounts of probiotics.
• Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Some doctors may suggest incorporating probiotics into your daily supplement routine but is it possible to take too much?

There are trillions of bacteria already living in our gut that are associated with good and bad health. The theory behind taking probiotics is that they may foster the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut and improve health, but research is still mixed on the benefits.

That said, in the traditional sense of the word, you can’t “overdose” on probiotics to the point where you suffer dangerous side effects or death. There haven’t been any accounts of such occurrences, says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, MS, FACP, gastroenterologist, and director of MemorialCare Medical Group’s Digestive Disease Center.

Here’s what you need to know about the complexity behind probiotic dosage and what can happen if you take more than an average dose.

How To Use Adult Probiotic

Follow all directions on the product package. Refer to the label directions for your specific product to see if the dose should be swallowed whole, chewed, sprinkled onto food or mixed with liquid. If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Some probiotic products may contain live bacteria . Antibiotics may prevent these products from working well. Take any product containing live bacteria at least 2 to 3 hours before or after taking antibiotics. Follow the directions for your specific product.

If you are taking this product for diarrhea due to antibiotics, do not use it if you have a high fever or for more than 2 days, unless directed by your doctor. You may have a serious problem that requires medical treatment.

If your condition persists or worsens, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

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Do Probiotics Really Expire

Probiotic manufacturers are required by law to indicate expiry dates on their products labels. But this does not always mean that probiotics cease to be effective after that date.

Sometimes, the microorganisms in your supplement die even before the indicated date. Other times, their shelf-life extends way beyond the expiry date shown on the label. Their viability is determined by various factors.

How To Choose Probiotics For Your Dog

Depending on how long your dog has been a member of your family, you might be very familiar with their tastes and preferences. Knowing those preferences can help you pick the right probiotic to give them. For example, if your dog refuses to take pills, then you know that a probiotic capsule is most likely out of the question.

Another thing to consider when choosing the right probiotic for your dog is the type of beneficial bacteria it contains. Ideally, the packaging will list the strains of bacteria found in the probiotic and will include a description of the reported benefits of those strains. Its important to remember that it might take some trial and error when it comes to choosing the right type for your dog. If you try one probiotic formula and its not helpful, another might be. Always talk to your dogs vet first before trying a new type of probiotic, though.

One last thing to remember when choosing a probiotic for your pet: Make sure the probiotic actually contains live bacteria. The packaging should state how many bacteria will still be alive by the end of the products shelf life. Some products state how many bacteria were alive at the beginning, but theres a chance that the microorganisms could die while the probiotic sits on a stores shelf. Also look for a use by or expiration date to make sure the probiotic will still be viable.

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