At what time should I take probiotics?
Most of the OptiBac Probiotics are best taken with a meal, and ideally with, or just after your breakfast.
An important factor in a high quality probiotic is its ability to survive through the gastric acidity. If a probiotic has not been tested to survive gastric acidity and biliary salts then it may not reach the intestines which is where it needs to settle in order to exert its beneficial effects on the body. The strains in the OptiBac Probiotics range were developed to survive gastric acidity above (more neutral than) pH 3; in-vitro trials on our probiotic strains show a 95 - 100% survival rate through gastric acidity at this is pH. Research from microbiologists at the Institut Rosell shows that at mealtimes (and especially breakfast time) the stomach’s gastric acidity is naturally at pH 4 or above. This is why we recommend taking the probiotics with your breakfast; this is when the probiotics will have the best survival rate through the body's gastric acidity and biliary salts.
Other factors to consider:
- Probiotics should not be taken at the same time as antibiotics - we recommend taking the antibiotics and then waiting an hour or so before taking your probiotics.
- Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic should not be taken at the same time as anti-fungal medicines. Otherwise it is a robust strain which need not neccesarily be taken with breakfast; any time should do for this one!
- For maintaining regularity may result initially in gas and/or bloating (due to the prebiotics), therefore customers may prefer to take this at night rather than in the morning
- Probiotics should not be taken with a hot drink.
- For those who are unable to swallow capsules, the contents of the capsules can be sprinkled onto cold beverages or foods.
- Probiotics should not interfere with other medicines or herbal / natural remedies.
- It is advised to drink plenty of water whilst taking a course of probiotics.