Every Day EXTRA

Recommended use

• For best results take 1 capsule daily, preferably with breakfast.
• If desired, or professionally directed, can be increased to 2 capsules a day.
• Can be used on an ongoing basis.
• Suitable from 12 months onwards. For those unable to swallow capsules, the capsule can be opened and the contents mixed into cool food or drinks.
• Do not exceed recommended daily dosage.

Storage instructions

• For best results, do not remove desiccant sachet from the glass jar and close lid firmly after each use.
• Store in a cool, dry place below 25°C (77 °F) and out of direct sunlight.

Customer Questions

All questions answered by probiotic experts Dr Kate Stephens PhD (Food and Microbial Sciences) BSc(Hons) Medical Microbiology and Kerry Beeson BSc (Nut. Med.) Nutritional Therapist.

Is it OK to take a probiotic every day?

Yes, it is safe and generally advisable to take your probiotic supplement daily. Probiotics colonize in the gut for a few weeks but research^1,2,3 suggests that the probiotic strains – along with their positive benefits – will disappear without regular supplementation, so it is a good idea to regularly support your microbiome. You can do this by including prebiotic-rich and fermented foods in your diet, but it is worth remembering that not all probiotics do the same thing in the body. Therefore, if you have a specific health condition you need to support, it is best to consume specific strains which have been shown to be helpful for your individual needs.

Should you take probiotics on a full or empty stomach?

The concern is that bacteria are delicate by nature, and that they may not survive stomach acid. Taking probiotics at a certain time of day (when stomach acidity is closer to neutral) could help ensure the highest survival rates of your probiotic. Confusingly though, different healthcare professionals and probiotic manufacturers have different guidelines about when is best to take these supplements! So, let us try to clarify a few things.

First, let us look at the logic behind having probiotics on an empty stomach, advocated by some. Well, because acid is stimulated by consumption of food, it is thought that taking probiotics on an empty stomach (mainly first thing in the morning) is ideal because there is less residual acid in the stomach. However, it is also important to note that there is a lag time (up to 30 minutes) between when food is eaten and when acid is released into the stomach.

With a few exceptions, it’s best to take your probiotic supplements with breakfast, as the food helps to buffer the effects of stomach acid; it may also help to facilitate the passage of the probiotics through the stomach, and ensures that they are well mixed with the stomach contents as they pass into the small intestines.

How long should you take probiotics for?

This depends on why you are taking them: some people like to take specific strains at certain times, for example during pregnancy, when travelling abroad, for menstrual bloating, or during the winter flu season. However, if you have ongoing health conditions, or just want to give your gut or vaginal microbiome a daily boost of good bacteria, then take your supplements every day. There is no current research to suggest the body becomes dependent on probiotics, so if you just feel better when you take them, it is fine to take your probiotics on a long-term, ongoing basis.

References

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
3. Jacobsen et al., 1999. 'Screening of probiotic activities of 47 strains of Lactobacillus spp. by in vitro techniques and evaluation of the colonisation ability of 5 selected strains in humans'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology; 65 (11): 4949-4956

Safety

Probiotics are not recommended for those with serious medical conditions e.g. those who are severely immunosuppressed, have pancreatitis, are in the ICU, have melaena, have a central venous catheter, short bowel syndrome, or patients with open wounds following major surgery; unless under a doctor's care. Keep out of reach of children.

This is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. If you are taking any medications or have a serious medical condition, consult a doctor before use. Optibac supplements will not cause dependency and may be used on an ongoing basis.

 Ingredients 

• Probiotic blend: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^®, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37^®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07^®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04^®
• Micro-crystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide.

Each capsule contains 20 billion CFU. Guaranteed until the date of expiry.

Suitability

• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Dairy free
• Gluten free
• Soy free
• Suitable in pregnancy
• Suitable for breastfeeding
• Yeast free
• GMO free
• Free from artificial flavorings, colorings and preservatives
• No chemicals or parabens

Following the taxonomic updates published in April 2020, a reclassification has been proposed for the L.paracasei species, and the paracasei strain in Every Day EXTRA may therefore now also be known as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei Lpc-37^®, or still indeed as L. paracasei Lpc-37^® for short.

Customer reviews

• Having suffered with symptoms of IBS for vast majority of my adult life, following dysentery 20 years ago, I had learnt to live with the symptoms. Following a recommendation however I decided to try your product and must admit this cynical doctor has been very pleasantly surprised. Six weeks in my bowel habit is regular and abdominal cramps/bloating much improved. I’m slowly re-introducing foods that I haven’t tolerated for years. It is obviously early days but I must admit to being impressed. Thank you!

  Dr D - 26th May 2021

• Great products, knowledgeable and helpful Nutritional Therapists. Have suffered with ibs for years but have huge benefit from Optibac Extra Strength. Am unable to use fos, and delighted to find products without this ingredient.

  K Blackmore - 10th May 2021

• After just 3 weeks taking Optibac extra strength already starting to sleep better and skin much clearer- easy addition to my daily routine and wkll definitely continue

  Cam - 11th March 2021

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USA Shipping

Coronavirus Update

We ship all USA orders from our warehouse in Hampshire in the UK. Due to the ongoing global pandemic many US, European and Worldwide postal routes are seeing increased transit times. Delivery times provided on this site are therefore a guide and not a guarantee. Express Services largely remain unaffected however these routes are typically subject to local tax and duties at customs.

USA standard shipping: $4.99

International postal order - typically delivered within 4-10 working days.
Free standard shipping on orders over $100.

USA express shipping: $6.99

We use DHL and orders are typically delivered within 1-3 working days.

Good to know

• We'll send you an email to confirm once your parcel has been dispatched.
• For delivery queries, please email enquiries@optibacprobiotics.com. 
• We are unable to ship orders to PO boxes.
• Product prices on this website are always shown in US dollars (USD $) and exclude tax - tax is not applicable as orders are fulfilled from the UK.

Worldwide Delivery

• We deliver to more than 50 countries.
• Shipping is charged at cost - please note that duties may apply.
• Please allow 3-7 working days for delivery within Europe and 5-12 days to all other destinations. Includes order tracking.  
• If you are located within the United Kingdom or Europe, we recommended switching to our UK website.
• International deliveries might currently take a little longer due to the global coronavirus situation. Please refer to the webpage of our international delivery provider DHL to confirm the number of days it takes to receive your order and whether they currently ship to your country.
• Most international delivery prices are dependent on the size and weight of your order and where it is being sent. You'll be shown the final price of shipping in the checkout, before payment, once we have your address and order details.
• Long distance shipping and short-term exposure to high temperatures will not compromise the viability of our products. Customers living in very hot countries should store the products out of direct sunlight and refrigerate if the option is available.

For more details regarding international orders, currency conversion and applicable tax for orders outside the USA, please take a look at our delivery FAQ.