How to handle and store Pro-Biotics Plus® Capsules and stick packs. 

All ProBiotics will benefit from proper storage to insure a long shelf life with full potency. Nothing in these formulas actually goes stale or bad with time. The potency will go down depending on how it is stored.  We only use fully stabilized versions of the probiotics and we formulate so it is ok to store at room  temperature. When Pro-Biotics Plus® is stored in the refrigerator you can add 6 months to the life of the product. When you store Pro-Biotics Plus® in the freezer you can add one full year to the life of the product.  

Why do some probiotics need to be refrigerated and not others? 
Probiotics are live cultures and are generally unstable at temperatures over 75 degrees. HOWEVER, the temperature inside the body is well over 75 degrees, not to mention that the probiotics would have to pass through hostile stomach acid and bile to get to the intestine. So what is the answer? The answer is to buy a probiotic supplement that contains stabilized strains of bacteria. The fact is, a probiotic that requires refrigeration is a red flag that it is not stable and will die on impact within the body. Make sure you read the label of any probiotics to be sure that the probiotics are stabilized. Also be sure that your probiotic contains prebiotics such as FOS. this is food for the good guy bacteria and helps insure colonization. Ours do not need to be refrigerated, but i do like the Belly-Ease in the refrigerator it keeps the tasting good and they stay hard. 

Make a wise choice and check the labels.

Not all probiotics are alike. Many cheap probiotics are unstable and lose their beneficial properties in the stomach before the probiotics can reach the intestine. The intestine is where the probiotics need to implant in order to seed your intestinal tract with healthy flora.

Don't take any probiotic if you can not find out what strain of bacteria are in them. Many manufacturers of both yogurt and supplements claim that this information is "commercially sensitive". Why should consumers buy and take something if they don't know if it contains the particular strain or the CFU's they want ?

Our Ingredients:

Lactobacillus Acidophilus  - Acidophilus is the most effective pro-biotic strain. Called the "sticker strain," Acidophilus has the ability to actually cling to the intestinal wall without harming it. In fact, it is best known for its ability to move un-disrupted through the stomach and into the intestines where it eats away at the bad bacteria. It is known for reducing the occurrence of constipation and diarrhea, increasing nutrient uptake (especially calcium).  

B. lactis -Both old names B. animalis and B. lactis are still used on product labels, as this species is frequently used as a probiotic. 

L. Reuteri - Although L. reuteri occurs naturally in humans, it is not found in all individuals. Therefore, dietary supplementation is needed to introduce and maintain high levels of it in some people. Oral intake of L. reuteri has been shown to effectively colonize the intestine of healthy people; colonization begins rapidly within days of ingestion, although the levels in the body drop within several months after intake is stopped. 

B. infantis - Normalizes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and can crowd out some bad strains of bacteria. According to the Journal of Applied Bacteriology, B. infantis is part of an important group of microorganisms, which are considered to exert a range of biological activities related to human health. This particular strain of probiotic has also been shown to produce compounds useful toward supporting intestinal health. 

B. longum - Aids in the cleansing and health of the colon and liver. It is also known for supporting normal breast health. 

L. gasseri - A number of clinical studies suggest that Lactobacillus gasseri may help reduce abdominal fat and support weight loss. Also known as the weight loss support probiotic. 

L. casei - Is known for its ability to support a healthy immune response that is helpful in supporting a healthy urinary tract. 

L. plantarum - Can be found in naturally fermented foods. In your body it is found in the large intestine where it helps to break down protein into usable nutrients, thus normalizing inflammation. 

L. rhamnosus - Is one of the more highly studied probiotic strains, primarily used in support of normal gastrointestinal health. It also aids the body in balancing the normal flora ecology and supports a healthy urinary tract. 

L. salivarius - Has been shown through research to produce a high amount of lactic acid, which can inhibit the growth of some bad bactiera. 

L. Lactis - Has been shown through research to produce a high amount of lactic acid, which is able to support a good gut and a normal intestinal flora.  

S. thermophilus - Is known for its effectiveness in free radical damage from aging, stress, chlorinated water and other chemicals. It also contains an antioxidant that helps support the immune system.  

Zinc- serves many functions, including acting as a constituent to at least 25 enzymes involved in digestion and metabolism. Research indicates that the health of the body’s natural killer cells may be dependent on zinc intake for normal growth and development. Zinc is very important for the support and function of the thymus gland and thymus hormones, as well as cellular immunity. 

Prebiotics - Inulin FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) – is one of the best-known prebiotics. FOS is a class of simple carbohydrates found naturally in certain plants, such as Jerusalem artichokes, onions and bananas. It is known to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and has been shown to stimulate growth of Bifidobacterium in the colon, facilitating good colonization. Supplementing with FOS can greatly increase metabolic activity in the colon and help relieve constipation and reduce the production of intestinal putrefactive substances. Healthy colon function is vital to a properly functioning immune system. 

Other: Reduced Cane Juice, Beet Root juice powder, Natural fruit flavors, Citric Acid, Silicon Dixide, Magnesium stearate, Stearic acid. 

This product is Gluten free,soy free, Corn Free, Chemical Free, No Artificial Colors or Preservatives.  All Ingredients and in full compliance with GMP Requirements for Dietary Supplements.   

Directions:

Open a stick pack sleeve, pour all or half on your tongue and enjoy!   Or add it to a smoothie or fruit juice.  Also great in Yogurt.  Consume one or half a day. For smaller children ¼ to ½ a stick day.  

Probiotics implant much better when they travel with food. It gives them more opportunity to jump off the train, so to speak, and set up camp.

Also, all the other nutrients will absorb better when they go through the intestinal tract slower. For extended freshness you can refrigerate. 

Indications
For people who drink carbonated beverages, chlorinated water, coffee and alcohol, eat fatty foods, get stressed or become overly tired, we unknowingly kill the good bacteria in our bodies.

Even the foods we eat to keep healthy, like meat, poultry and milk, often contain antibiotics that further reduce the levels of good bacteria. For most Americans, this means every day we negatively influence our bodies' ability to stay healthy. So we need to take probiotics everyday.

1. What type of research is behind the Pro-Biotics Plus ® formula?

Pro-Biotics Plus ® stick packs combines the latest research and clinical studies into one powerful formula. The probiotics in this formula were selected after consulting with Dr. Khem Shahani from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Shahani is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on beneficial bacteria supplementation. 

2. I heard that you should not take immune support daily. Is this true?

This is not true for Pro-Biotics Plus® stick packs. Products that contain herbs such as Goldenseal and Echinacea should not be used over long periods of time because they are not supportive of the immune system but rather force it to react, potentially causing an imbalance and over activity. Pro-Biotics Plus ® contains none of these herbs and can safely be taken every day. 

3. Can I give Pro-Biotics Plus ® stick packs to my children?

Yes, this formula is safe for most people. For children less than 8 years of age use half the recommended adult dose. Check with a pediatrician before giving to a child 3 years or younger. 

4. Why should I take this formula with a meal?

Probiotics implant much better when they travel with food. It gives them more opportunity to jump off the train, so to speak, and set up camp. Also, all the other nutrients will absorb better when they go through the intestinal tract slower. 

5. What should I look for in a good probiotic supplement?

It is good to look for one that is high in CFU's and more than one or two strains. What is a CFU? CFU or Colony Forming Units - A unit of measurement used in microbiology that indicates the number of microorganisms present. Think of them like seeds that you are going to use to plant a garden. It is also a measure of how many bacteria (and yeast, because there are probiotic yeasts) are able to divide and form colonies. It might be easier, to think of colony forming units as being a single bacterium. If the probiotic bacteria are capable of dividing and forming colonies then that is proof that they are alive and healthy. 

6. How many cfu's do I need?

For general good health, most experts recommend between 6 to 40 billion CFU's each day. Take the dose suggested on the box.  Our capsules have 3.6 billion live pro-biotics per capsule of the top five immune support strains per capsules. Our stick packs  have 40 Billion CFUs per stick and Belly-Ease has 1 billion per tablet.    

7. Should I take a multi strain or single strain probiotic?

A multi strain duplicates the natural process of eating probiotics in your food where you take in a variety of lactic acid bacteria. So for general good health, a multi strain probiotic that has at least both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species is best.