Every Day MAX Probiotics

Probiotics are very safe supplements, and it’s not thought to be possible to ‘overdose’ on them: the human gut naturally contains trillions of micro-organisms, so the number of bacteria in a supplement is relatively small by comparison, and clinical trials have used doses up to 500 billion(1). Each gut microbiome is unique, and some people do better on higher strength supplements, whereas others find they get the support they need from a lower dose.

Reference
(1). Pham M, Lemberg DA, Day AS. (2008) Probiotics: sorting the evidence from the myths. Med J Aust. Mar 3;188(5):304-8. PMID: 18312197.
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A max strength probiotic supplement typically contains at least 50 billion live cultures. It's not always necessary to take max strength probiotics, as in some cases a strain maybe sufficient at doses of just 1 billion live cultures! (1) But some people do find that they do better when taking max strength live cultures regularly. If this is the case, when buying, still look at the strains before looking at the number of billions (high-quality supplements always list the strains not just the species). It's best to take high-quality probiotic strains which have been researched for your individual needs. Optibac Probiotics Every Day MAX contains 75 billion live cultures of the highest quality, extensively researched friendly bacteria, including one of the world’s most researched strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®.

Reference
(1). Eskesen et al. (2015) Effect of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, BB-12®, on defecation frequency in healthy subjects with low defecation frequency and abdominal discomfort: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Br J Nutr; 114, 10: 1638-46.
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Many people like to take specific probiotic strains at certain times, for example during pregnancy, during the winter flu season, or after eating problem foods. However, many people, especially those with ongoing health or skin conditions, feel better when taking max strength live cultures every day, to complement their natural gut bacteria. Research (1,2) suggests that ongoing daily use is fine, with no risk of dependency.

References
(1). Pham M, Lemberg DA, Day AS. (2008) Probiotics: sorting the evidence from the myths. Med J Aust. Mar 3;188(5):304-8. PMID: 18312197.(2). Mimura, T. et al. (2004). 'Once daily high dose probiotic therapy (VSL#3) for maintaining remission in recurrent or refractory pouchitis'. Gut, 53(1): 108-114
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Yes, it is safe and generally advisable to take a daily probiotic supplement. Good bacteria only colonise in the gut for a few weeks and research (1,2,3) suggests that a regular intake of probiotic digestive supplements helps to complement the gut microbiome.

Reference
(1) Mimura, T. et al. (2004). 'Once daily high dose probiotic therapy (VSL#3) for maintaining remission in recurrent or refractory pouchitis'. Gut, 53(1): 108-114. (2) Morelli L et al., 2004. 'Utilisation of the intestinal tract as a delivery system for urogenital probiotics'. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology; 38(6): 107-110
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Many people are unsure what time they should take probiotic supplements, or if they should take live cultures with or without food, especially when taking max strength probiotics. In general, it’s best to take your probiotics at breakfast time, as this is when stomach acidity is closer to neutral. Taking live cultures with food further helps to buffer the acid and help the good bacteria pass into the gut. If you miss breakfast, just take with another meal or snack.