Should You Refrigerate Probiotics? All You Need to Know

Gut Health: How to Maintain Balance with Probiotics

The human gut is a complex micro-ecosystem that includes beneficial bacteria as well as harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Lactic acid bacteria promote health by producing lactic acid, creating an acidic environment that inhibits harmful bacteria and maintains gut ecological balance. The gut is the body’s largest immune organ, with most immune cells located there, making gut health closely linked to immune function.

Why Do Good Gut Bacteria Decrease?

Aging and Chronic Diseases

As we age, the variety and number of beneficial bacteria decrease, reducing immune capacity. Chronic diseases like diabetes are also associated with changes in gut microbiota.

Westernized Diet

Diets high in calories, animal fats, sugars, and processed foods can alter the normal gut flora, hindering the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Antibiotic Use

Antibiotics kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria, disrupting gut microbiota balance. If you need to take antibiotics and probiotics simultaneously, consult a doctor or pharmacist.

Importance of Proper Storage

The effectiveness of probiotics highly depends on storage conditions. Proper storage ensures that probiotics remain active until consumption. Improper storage can reduce their effectiveness, preventing them from providing the expected health benefits. Temperature, humidity, and light are key factors affecting the stability of probiotic products.

Who Should Take Probiotics?

People with Irregular Bowel Movements

Insufficient water intake, stress, and imbalanced digestive flora can lead to irregular bowel movements. Probiotics help maintain digestive function and improve microbial ecology, promoting regular bowel movements.

Individuals with Poor Digestive Function

Irregular eating habits, overeating, or consuming spicy foods can cause digestive discomfort. Probiotics aid in food breakdown and maintain normal digestive function.

People with Insufficient Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Frequent Diners Out

Those who often eat out and have unbalanced diets may experience irregular bowel movements. Probiotics can help digestion, maintain digestive function, and reduce issues caused by dietary imbalance.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians’ digestive flora may differ from non-vegetarians. Probiotics help adjust the microbial ecology and maintain a balanced digestive flora.

Tips for Choosing Probiotics

More Strains Are Not Always Better

Some strains may compete or inhibit each other, making the combination crucial. For example, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus plantarum produce waste products that serve as food for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, promoting colonization in the gut.

Suitable Forms of Probiotics

Powder: Easily absorbed but not easily stored, often with added anti-caking agents and flavorings.

Tablets: Made at high temperatures, potentially damaging probiotic activity, with more added colors and excipients.

Capsules: Easy to store, strong protection, simple production process, and minimal chemical additives, making them the recommended form.

Liquid: Temperature-sensitive, requires refrigeration, quick absorption but less stable. Suitable for developing children or teenagers, liquid products like yogurt contain dairy components that also provide calcium for growth.

How to Choose Suitable Probiotics?

Everyone’s probiotic needs vary. Some seek to improve gut health, others to relieve allergic reactions, and some to maintain intimate area health. To choose the right probiotics, consider whether the strains meet your specific needs. Here are some tips to help you choose the most suitable probiotics:

Select Probiotics Verified by Human Trials

Ensure that the strains in the product have been verified through human trials to guarantee safety and effectiveness. Strains should have their full names, such as HN019, NCFM, LP33, RC14, etc. Only strains tested in human trials can effectively perform their functions.

Ensure Adequate Number of Viable Bacteria

The number of viable bacteria should be based on human trial results, not necessarily the highest number. Different strains have different effective doses, so research or consult the brand to avoid products with insufficient bacteria. Many products claim to contain hundreds of billions of bacteria but may use weaker strains, requiring higher numbers to compensate.

Choose Products with Embedding Technology or Acid-Resistant Properties

Probiotics can easily die in acidic stomach environments, often losing activity within 30 minutes. Choose products with embedding technology or naturally acid-resistant strains to ensure probiotics reach the gut and colonize effectively.

Select Products Tested by Third Parties and with Public Results

Probiotic production can introduce harmful impurities like heavy metals or plasticizers. Choose products that have undergone relevant testing with public reports to ensure safety.

TruHerbs GMaster - Japan’s Patent-Protected Probiotics, 50 Years of Clinical Validation for Digestive Comfort

TruHerbs GMaster features a unique formula containing Japanese-patented probiotics, including Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Bifidobacterium breve M16-V. These strains have been clinically validated over 50 years and are effective in alleviating digestive discomfort, improving issues related to Helicobacter pylori, and easing daily heartburn and acid discomfort. Additionally, TruHerbs GMaster uses advanced microencapsulation technology to maintain up to 90% live bacteria survival, effectively protecting probiotic activity even in extreme conditions.

The formula of TruHerbs GMaster is not only acid and alkali-resistant but also safely passes through stomach acid to reach the intestines, ensuring its efficacy and potency without needing refrigeration, making it convenient for daily use. Its yogurt-flavored powder design makes it easy to carry and convenient to supplement nutrition anytime and anywhere. This product can be mixed with various foods (such as yogurt and juice) for easy consumption and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Each pack of TruHerbs GMaster contains up to 5 billion active probiotics and prebiotics, effectively supplementing high-quality probiotics. Its all-natural formula is safe, without side effects, and suitable for long-term use.

What Shouldn't Be Taken with Probiotics?

When consuming probiotics, pay attention to temperature and antibiotics:

Temperature: Most probiotics thrive below 40 degrees Celsius. High temperatures can deactivate probiotics, rendering them ineffective.

Antibiotics: Antibiotics kill all bacteria, including beneficial ones. If taking antibiotics (oral or intravenous), stagger probiotic intake. Some strains, like Saccharomyces boulardii, can be taken with oral antibiotics. Recent studies suggest supplementing with probiotics during antibiotic treatment to protect gut bacterial diversity, so consult your doctor.

Probiotic Storage and Activity

Most probiotic strains are sensitive to moisture and heat. Each strain's characteristics vary, often produced by fermentation, then dried into powder or encapsulated, placing probiotics in a "dormant" state.

How to Prolong Probiotic Survival?

Add Auxiliary Ingredients

Adjust the probiotic formula with prebiotics (like galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides) as nutrients for beneficial bacteria, creating an environment conducive to probiotic survival and stability.

Increase Initial Bacterial Count

Increasing the initial bacterial count during production helps offset bacterial loss during packaging or transportation, though this method is less effective than formula adjustments.

Use Embedding Technology

Coating probiotics with multiple protective layers (heat-resistant, acid-resistant) increases stability in high temperatures and helps them survive stomach acid. Effective embedding technology has strong protection and high thresholds, often recognized by international patents, ensuring high quality but higher costs.

Select Special Strains

High-quality probiotics often use strains like Lactobacillus plantarum LP28, which thrive in high salt and acidic environments. Or, strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH113, which are gut-resident, highly acid- and bile-resistant. Bacillus coagulans form endospores in harsh environments, making them acid- and heat-resistant, allowing high-temperature storage or stomach acid passage. Clostridium butyricum CBM588 can withstand temperatures above 55 degrees Celsius; Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 can withstand up to 100 degrees Celsius. These special strains are commonly found in high-quality probiotic supplements.

Common Questions

Do Probiotics Need Refrigeration?

"Strain embedding" and "using special strains" can make probiotics stable at room temperature. These methods effectively enhance probiotic storage and effectiveness, eliminating the need for refrigeration. However, many traditional probiotics are heat-sensitive, stable at 25 degrees Celsius but losing activity above 30 degrees, and becoming inactive above 40 degrees within days, reducing effectiveness and wasting money. In today’s warming climate, temperatures often exceed 36 degrees. If unsure about the heat resistance of your probiotics, store them in a cool place away from direct sunlight to ensure high activity and sufficient bacterial count.

Can I Leave Probiotics Out for a Short Time?

Short-term exposure to room temperature is acceptable for many probiotics. However, long-term exposure can reduce their effectiveness. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for best results.

How Do I Know if My Probiotics Have Gone Bad?

Signs of spoiled probiotics include changes in color, smell, or texture. Always check the expiration date and follow storage instructions to prevent spoilage.

Are There Probiotics Stable at Room Temperature?

Yes, some probiotics are designed to be stable at room temperature and do not require refrigeration. These products can remain active at room temperature.

Can I Store Probiotics in the Fridge?

Unless specified by the manufacturer, it is generally not recommended to freeze probiotics as it can cause the bacterial cell walls to rupture, reducing their activity.

Do Probiotics Have a Shelf Life?

Yes, probiotics have a shelf life indicating the period during which the product should contain the declared number of live bacteria. Always check the expiration date before purchasing and consuming.

Conclusion

Proper storage is crucial for maintaining probiotic efficacy. While many probiotic strains require refrigeration, not all do. Understanding the specific storage needs of different probiotics can help maintain their efficacy, ensuring you receive their full health benefits. Follow manufacturer storage instructions, and for temperature-sensitive probiotics, consider refrigeration. Proper storage practices will help maintain probiotic activity and maximize health benefits. By adhering to these guidelines, you can enjoy the full health benefits of these beneficial microorganisms.