FAQs
If you’ve wondered how long your probiotics last after being opened, whether you can take them while pregnant, or if there’s added dairy, you’ve come to the right place. Find an answer for these questions, and more, below.
For information on storage and handling of probiotics, refer to our information sheet
Pharmacovigilance: If you’d like to report a suspected adverse event or product complaint related to an Evolution Health product, please contact us.
What is a microbiome and why is it important?
The human microbiome is a term used to describe the large communities of microbes that coat the human body, inside and out. Invisible to the human eye, this extraordinary ecosystem is made up of a diverse collection of bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, that is as unique to you as your fingerprint. When in balance, the microbiome coexists peacefully with your body, supporting health like a functioning organ. Changes to this balance can affect your general health and wellbeing.
What is a probiotic?
A probiotic is a live microorganism that can offer health benefits to the host (that’s you) when taken in adequate amounts. Beneficial microbes can be found in fermented foods such as yoghurt and kimchi. By supplementing with probiotics, you can choose the type and strength of probiotic specific to your health needs. For a supplement to be called a ‘probiotic’ in Australia, it should contain live bacteria.
How do probiotics work?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that support our health and wellbeing. Even though probiotic supplements are taken by mouth, once they reach the gut, these clever little microbes can send messages to distant organs to influence health and function.
Many systems benefit from probiotics and various strains of probiotics may have different actions which allow them to support our health in many different ways, such as:
· Supporting the intestinal microbiome – helping to improve the balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria
· Supporting gastrointestinal mucosal membrane health (AKA gut barrier) – Part of your first line of defence for your precious immune system
· Supporting immune system health
· Supporting healthy bowel function and digestive system health – so that you can have a healthy relationship with the loo!
What is a CFU?
CFU stands for ‘Colony Forming Unit’ – a term used to describe the measurement of live bacteria found in a probiotic supplement. Why is this important? Knowing the CFU count of your probiotic supplement helps you to identify the strength of the probiotic supplement, which plays an important role in determining the health benefits.
Life-Space probiotics delivers the amount of CFU’s shown on the label.
What is a probiotic strain and why is it important?
Just like you belong a country, state, town and your own home, probiotic bacteria belong to a Genus, a species within that Genus, then a subspecies and finally, a strain within the subspecies. Not all probiotics are created equal; different strains may be associated with different health benefits.
How often should I take probiotics?
Every day :-) The health benefits of probiotics are experienced during the time period they are supplemented. Therefore, it is recommended to take probiotics daily.
Always read the label and consult with your health professional if you have questions.
When is the best time to take a probiotic?
Probiotics can be taken at any time of day, before or with a meal. If you are also taking antibiotics, it is recommended to take probiotics at least 2 hours away from the antibiotics (before or after).
Do Life-Space Probiotics need to be refrigerated?
No. All Life-Space probiotic formulas are developed using a tried and tested technology known as ‘freeze drying’, which produces probiotics that are live, stable and functional at a range of temperatures, including at room temperature (below 30˚ C). This offers the convenience of shelf-stable probiotic products that do not need to be stored in the fridge. Please read the label to ensure that storage conditions are met. Most products need to be stored below 30˚C (some may need to be stored below 25˚C) in a low humidity environment.
Do I need to consume the product within a certain time frame after it has been opened?
Once opened, the probiotic product needs to be consumed within 3 months for optimum results.
How long does it take for probiotics to work?
The amount of time it takes to experience benefits from probiotic supplementation may vary with each individual and depends on their current health status or condition. While some may experience benefits as early as 1-2 weeks, others may benefit from taking probiotics for a longer period of time. For more specific advice, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your health professional.
What is the difference between prebiotic and probiotic?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found in certain foods or supplements. Prebiotics are foods that we can’t digest but which feed our beneficial bacteria. They are typically found in fibrous foods, such as fruits, wholegrains and legumes.
Who can benefit from taking probiotics?
All Life-stages benefit from taking probiotics. As we evolve with age, so does our microbiome. Taking care of your microbiome throughout your lifespan can play a key role in supporting health and the best part is, it’s never too late to start. Different life stages present with different health needs and challenges, from establishing a healthy microbiome at birth, to restoring and maintaining a healthy microbiome during our adult and senior years. Different probiotic strains may cater to the different needs and therefore it is important to choose the right probiotic to suit your individual needs.
What are the small blue canisters in the product?
The mini blue canister is a desiccant. The purpose of a desiccant is to absorb moisture, helping to maintain dryness in the jar. Moisture can be damaging to probiotic bacteria and therefore these cannisters must be retained in the container with your probiotics for the duration of use.
How do I check whether it is an authentic product?
If the product has a scan code top, you can scratch off and scan to verify authenticity.
To check authenticity for products without scan code top, please email the following information to service@evolutionhealth.com.au :
(1) Screenshot of your purchase order (showing store name, order number, date, product)
(2) Platform where store is hosted (e.g. eBay, Amazon, Taobao)
(3) 4 Photos of product showing:
- Front of label
- Lid (showing batch details)
- Bottom of jar
- Barcode
(4) Country where you are located
Can I take more than 1 capsule daily or increase the dosage?
If you wish to use the product differently from the directions given on the product label, please consult your health professional or a pharmacist.
How can I responsibly dispose of my Life-Space container?
At Life-Space we believe maintaining the health of the planet as much as we believe in maintaining your health. Please see below details on how to dispose of your container responsibly.
· The glass container can be disposed of in your recycle bin.
· The plastic label covering the glass jar be removed and recycled at any facility that accepts soft plastics. If this option is not available, it should go into your normal waste bin.
· Please discard the blue cannisters and jar lid in your general waste.
NOTE: The glass jars are handy to keep for storing small food or non-food items - they can be washed and reused.
Are the products dairy-free? How is ‘no added dairy’ different from ‘dairy free'?
Most of our products generally have NO ADDED DAIRY.
'No added dairy’ means dairy ingredients were NOT added as an ingredient during the manufacturing process of the product.
NOTE: The product has not been analytically tested to confirm the complete absence of dairy.
Some of our products are DAIRY FREE. If 'dairy free' is indicated on the product label, it means it has been tested to confirm the absence of dairy.
If you have dairy allergy, please consult your health professional about the suitability of the product.
Are Life-Space products vegetarian?
Yes, our probiotic products are suitable for vegetarians.
Are Life-Space products vegan?
No dairy ingredients have been added to the products during manufacturing. Some probiotic strains used in the products may have originated from dairy sources or have been cultivated in a dairy medium. As a result our probiotic products are vegetarian-friendly.
Are Life-Space products halal-certified?
No, our products are not halal certified, though they are vegetarian-suitable.
How do you ensure the probiotic product contains the amount of probiotic stated on the label?
Life-Space probiotics are tested by TGA licenced laboratories and supported by stability protocols which verify our products meet the indicated shelf life requirement and contain the bacterial count as per label.
Can the probiotic powder be mixed with food or other beverages besides water?
Yes, our probiotic powders can be mixed with food or beverages such as milk and juices. It should be consumed immediately after mixing. Please note that the food or beverage should be at room-temperature, no more than 40°C as probiotics are heat-sensitive. Temperatures above 40°C may negatively impact on the probiotic.
Can I open the capsule and sprinkle its content over food or beverages?
Yes. If you have difficulty swallowing capsules, sprinkling the powdered content from the capsule over foods or beverages is also a viable option. Please note that the food or beverage should be at room-temperature, no more than 40°C as probiotics are heat-sensitive.
If you would like to learn more about the microbiome or the Life-Space probiotic range, please feel free to send your questions through to our team.
Email: service@evolutionhealth.com.au
Phone: 03 9828 9400