Are Expired Probiotics Harmful
If youve accidentally consumed a batch of expired probiotics, dont panic. Taking expired probiotics wont kill you or make you sick, but dead probiotics are practically useless. You wont experience the full benefits of probiotic supplements if most of the bacteria dies before consumption. It defeats the purpose of taking probiotics in the first place.
Dead probiotic bacteria wouldnt be strong enough to hang onto your gut walls. The lack of live probiotics after consumption would also result in the good bacteria being outnumbered by the bad.
Can Old Probiotics Make You Sick
Because microbes used as probiotics already exist naturally in your body, probiotic foods and supplements are generally considered safe. They may trigger allergic reactions, and may also cause mild stomach upset, diarrhea, or flatulence and bloating for the first few days after starting to take them.
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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.
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What Affects Probiotics Viability
Probiotic viability is affected by factors such as oxygen toxicity and stomach acid:
- Oxygen Toxicity:
Most probiotics need some amount of oxygen to reproduce or grow. However, some of them can also breed without oxygen. Certain studies indicate that too much oxygen can inhibit the growth of microorganisms. As a result, some probiotic strains such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus acidophilus may be affected by oxygen toxicity. Therefore, storage conditions affect the viability of the probiotic.
The acidity in the stomach helps to digest food. However, if the probiotics enter the stomach, it gets rid of them. Therefore, it is unfortunate as you will not be able to get the maximum benefits of probiotics. When they reach the stomach, their numbers reduce because of the acidity. If an individual wants to protect them from it, they should take them on an empty stomach.
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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Shelf Life And Expiration Dates
Even though nutritional supplements contain expiration dates, unlike perishable foods such as milk or meat, they dont really spoil or go bad in the same way. When discussing the shelf life of a supplement, it is really the potency that is the primary concern, not ingredient spoiling or becoming toxic. It isnt dangerous to take expired vitamins, but they may have lost some potency.
The expiration date represents the last day the item will be at its highest level of potency and quality. In other words, up until that date the product is guaranteed to contain its labeled ingredient potencies and the tablet itself is guaranteed to disintegrate properly. Beyond the expiration date, nutrient potency may gradually decline. As such, we recommend consuming products before the printed expiration date.
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What Are The 10 Best Probiotics
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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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Can Taking Expired Probiotics Be Harmful
Hi there, This is Dr Basu, Experienced Specialist. I am here to address your concerns and provide great service.
No this is not possible.
Probiotics are friendly bacteria stored in dry form.
They may get deactivated –not that effective over time.
But they will not cause any infection.
Okay, so they wouldn’t “go bad” at all? Obviously I will not take anymore.
they cannot cause any problem.
Any thoughts of any home treatment for my symptoms while I am waiting for this colonoscopy? It’s been over a week and I am not any better. Like I said, this specialist just blew me off, offered no help. I have tried not eating, only taking in liquids for days, that has not helped. It def feels bowel related.
just need to watch your diet
try to follow a gluten and lactose free diet.
avoid any nsaids like advil
Okay, I am already a vegetarian, but still use dairy, I will cut that too. And gluten, …wont leave me with much, huh?
try to atleast reduce gluten for now.
you can try this link for some help on diet:
Okay, I will. Thank you very much for your time.
It was my pleasure to help you today. I am Dr Basu experienced in Gastrointestinal Diseases.If I have answered all your questions, Please rate my response Excellent under this chat box only.Please bookmark my profile for asking further questions! This is the link to my profile: http://www.justanswer.com/medical/expert-mysticdoc/
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Does Acidophilus Need To Be Refrigerated
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
Acidophilus is a type of bacteria that is naturally present in the intestines. Its 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 doesnt 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, its entering a warm environment ? Heres what you need to know:
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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:
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.
How Quickly Do Probiotics Expire
The shelf life of probiotics is an important factor to consider when purchasing these products. In the case of refrigerated probiotics, they are safe for up to 12 months.
Probiotics are living microorganisms that have been used as health supplements in humans and animals for many years. They help with digestion, immunity, and other functions in the human body.
The shelf life of probiotics is an important factor to consider when purchasing these products. In the case of refrigerated probiotics, they are safe for up to 12 months.
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Can I Take Medicine That Expires This Month
After the expiry date medicines may not be safe or as effective. You should not take medicines after their expiry date. If youve had a medicine for a while, check the expiry date before using it. You should also make sure that youve stored the medicine properly, as described on the packaging or leaflet.
What To Know About Liquid Supplements
Liquid multivitamins and other liquid formulas may require special storage some must be refrigerated after opening. Besides refrigeration, it’s important to keep the product as clean and sanitary as possible. While many liquid formulas do have preservatives added to help the product stay as fresh as possible, drinking straight from the bottle is one of the biggest ways to introduce bacteria into the supplement. If you drink from the included dosage cap, be sure to rinse it thoroughly before you put it back on. In general, its best not to consume a liquid formula past its expiration date, so if you need help remembering to take your daily dose, set a reminder in your phone or put a sticky note on your refrigerator door to remind you.
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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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Disposal Of Expired Vitamins
Take an inventory of your vitamin stash. If you discover any expired bottles, dispose of them properly. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following steps to dispose of expired vitamins or other supplements:
The EPA does not recommend flushing expired vitamins down the toilet. The substances may pass through wastewater treatment plants and end up in lakes, rivers, or other sources of drinking water.
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What Happens If You Take An Expired Probiotic
Taking a nutritional supplement past its expiration date wont harm you. But they do lose their potency after they expire and, therefore, their effectiveness. For certain types of supplements, its best to throw out old ones. In Canada, supplement manufacturers are required to include expiry dates on labels.
Is It Ok To Take Expired Probiotics
No, you should not take expired probiotics because they are ineffective.
Probiotics are live bacterial and yeast strains packed in powdered or encapsulated forms, with the addition of little to no microbial food. And like any other living organism, without a consistent food supply, these microbes die after a certain time.
As a result, the longer a probiotic stays on the shelf, the lesser its efficacy is. About a 5-10% decrease in effectiveness is estimated every month.
Thus, a freshly manufactured probiotic pill is more effective than the same pill 3 months past the manufacturing date.
Until the expiry date, most of the bacteria would have died. So, using probiotics past the expiration date would not provide the results you are looking for.
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Do Probiotics Help You Lose Weight
Probiotics may help you lose weight and belly fat In particular, studies have found that certain strains of the Lactobacillus family can help you lose weight and belly fat. One study showed that eating yogurt with Lactobacillus fermentum or Lactobacillus amylovorus reduced body fat. Another study showed that people who ate yogurt containing L. acidophilus had a lower body mass index than those who didnt eat yogurt at all.
How to get probiotics in your diet Probiotics are a type of bacteria that live in the intestines. They help the body digest food and produce vitamins and other nutrients. Probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and yogurt-based yogurts. You can also take a probiotic supplement, which is made from fermented foods, such as yogurt. The most common types are Lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacterium longum, Lachnospiraceae, Streptococcus thermophiles, Prevotella spp., and Clostridium perfringens.
Some People Recommend You Do A Probiotic Milk Test
This involves stirring the contents of a probiotic capsule into a bowl of milk.
If the milk turns into yogurt, it means the bacteria in your probiotic supplement are alive it was able to ferment the mild.
This is not altogether a reliable test though.
Because the probiotic supplements are so unreliable though, Harvard Health Publishing recommends that people skip getting their good bacteria from probiotic supplements and rather get them through fermented foods, like kefir, yogurt, pickles, and sauerkraut.
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The Type Of Vitamin Matters As Well When Youre Looking At Expirations
Things that that need to be refrigerated, like probiotics and liquids, are definitely best to toss out after the expiration date has passed, said Cynthia Marie LaBonte, a chemist and owner of Newport Herbal Formulas in Newport, Rhode Island.
Fish oils or any liquid cap has a hard line as to its expiration date and that expiration date should be heeded, as we check expiration dates on nut butters and vegetable oils, she said, noting that fish oil can go rancid if used past the suggested date.
For powder supplements, heat, humidity, light and air are what will degrade potency over time, Dadd said. He noted that following storage directions on the bottle will help ensure the product stays effective. The same advice goes for supplements like gummy or chewable vitamins, which absorb more moisture naturally than regular pills. This means they tend to go bad faster.
Traas added that improper vitamin storage can sometimes even negate an expiration date.
Lets take protein powder for instance. You open it up, use it, and forget about it in your car after the gym. Your car heats up and then you blast the air. Moisture ensues and bam, youve got mold and that can happen within the expiration date, Traas said.
To avoid the need to use old vitamins altogether, Hawkins recommends purchasing vitamins and supplements in smaller quantities so that they are always consumed fresh to provide maximum benefit.
