Transporting Probiotics

FragileAs many are aware, probiotic products are a live culture and should be kept cool or stored in the refrigerator.

We recommend that you purchase a freezer bag to be sent with any probiotic purchase on the Emed site. The freezer bag will help keep the probiotic cold for approximately 2 to 3 days during delivery.

To purchase a reusable freezer bag, along with the the probiotic product that you select, simply select ‘freezer bag’ as part of the purchase.

Please note that if the ‘freezer bag’ option is not selected then the probiotic product you order will be sent without a freezer bag.

If the probiotic product is allowed to warm to room temperature or higher, there can be a sight loss of approximately 1% of the population of the bacteria for each 24 hour period it is above 30 degrees.

Whilst we identify that there are limitations with the freezer bag, it still represents the most cost effective method to transport probiotics. We are currently investigating other methods of shipping this type of product, but the significantly increased cost of postage and packaging  may only give another day of cool temperatures.

If we come up with a better solution we will incorporate it within our site, and make it an option for shipping, much like the freezer bag.

 

So what can be done to ensure the probiotic product arrives in the best possible shape?

  1. From our end, we always send probiotic products to Australia Post, just before their scheduled delivery run.
  2. If we receive an order just before a weekend (especially a long weekend), we may choose to hold off sending the product, to avoid it sitting in the depot over a (long) weekend.
  3. Whenever possible, all interstate, or international probiotic orders are sent by air. It’s pretty cold in the cargo bay of the aircraft.
  4. Our average delivery time for orders within Australia is about 2 to 4 working days. The further away you are from us the longer the delivery time. So, if possible, consider generating a probiotic order at the start of the week, rather than later. And avoid your products sitting at the post office over the weekend.
  5. Make sure you are available to collect your order. An obvious one, but frequently over looked. Australia Post are going to deliver during business hours. If you are not home during business hours then a card is usually left at your home and then you will have to pick up the order the next working day. Consider your delivery address. You can always change it from order to order at checkout, as required.
  6. As long as you store the product in the fridge, after it is opened, the loss with be fairly minimal. In fact many health food stores and chemists, store their products at room temperature. They only place them in the refrigerator for display purposes. ALL our probiotics are stored in a controlled environment.
  7. Keep it in perspective, considering the incredible strength of the products we provide, they will still have tremendous therapeutic power.

A point worth considering is that I always prescribe probiotics for patients that are travelling overseas. Especially to places such as Bali and India. Nothing can ruin a holiday more than a bad case of ‘Bali Belly’ – travellers diarrhoea or bacteria gastrointeritis.

The BEST way to avoid ANY stomach upsets is to use a quality probiotic product before, during and after your trip.

These style of countries are often extremely hot and the product may not really spend much time in the fridge. But they STILL WORK – really well in fact.

In all patients I have prescribed probiotics, and they have taken them, have all avoided significant gastrointestinal upsets. Without exception.  As for many of those patients, they had no way of cooling anything – let alone getting fresh water.

 

Heat Stable Probiotics

There are also a number of probiotic formulae that are heat-stable, meaning that they do not have to be stored in the refrigerator.

 

Special data for Metagenics Probiotics

Trials carried out by Health World show that Metagenics probiotics are able to be left in 30 degree heat for two weeks without any harm to the bacteria provided they are refrigerated thereafter.

 

Special Data for BioCeuticals Probiotics 

BioCeuticals’ probiotic supplements have been on the market for several years and, during these years, they have built a reputation as market leaders in probiotic supplements. BioCeuticals products are trusted for the research behind each formulation and the years of therapeutic benefit they’ve provided to thousands of patients.

Of course, the success of a product doesn’t just rely on how effective it is. Equally as important is how convenient the product is for patients to use. Dairy-free probiotics give lactose-intolerant and dairy-allergic individuals greater choice, and heat-stability allows the probiotics to be kept out of the fridge.

BioCeuticals is proudly a member of the International Probiotics Association (IPA), which assists in establishing high standards for probiotic supplements. The organisation is equally devoted to industry and academia, with a strong focus on the latest probiotic breakthroughs. IPA aims to educate consumers on the proven health benefits of probiotics, putting forth unbiased information to its international members.

 

What are human strains of probiotics? 

You may have heard the terms “human strains” and “human-derived strains” used to describe the formulas of specific probiotic supplements.

All probiotic strains used in BioCeuticals supplements are human-derived. However, there is no such thing as a “human strain” of probiotics. Humans gain their probiotic bacteria from their parents, the food they consume, their environment, animals and everything with which they come into contact. Most probiotics are not of human origin; the bacteria choose to live inside the human – the host – but the strains originate from the environment.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of probiotics, issued in 2001 is as follows: “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a beneficial health effect on the host.”

 

Do humans need a diverse range of probiotic strains?

Bacteria are opportunistic organisms that seek to live in an environment that best suits their survival. Bacteria is ubiquitous and is found in our soils, on our fruit and vegetables, fermented foods and even in the air. To say that we need to stay away from probiotic supplements that are not “human strains” would also mean we should stop eating yoghurt, sauerkraut, kefir and so on.

As many as 1000, and possibly many more, strains of helpful bacteria reside inside each one of us. We need bacterial biodiversity in our gut. We need to consume millions of different bacterial organisms for our health. Problems can only arise when the balance is disturbed.

Some of natural medicine’s most widely used and researched probiotic supplements are not human-derived strains. For example, Lactobacillus plantarum is a plant-derived probiotic strain. The commonly used Saccharomyces boulardii is one of the most researched strains in the world and yet it is of fruit origin not human-derived.

 

The International Probiotics Association advocates the benefits of multistrain probiotics:

“Take a broad number if you are taking them to maintain general good health. Use specific kinds if you are targeting a certain condition or disease.”

BioCeuticals choose to use multistrain probiotic formulas. Supplementation with a blend of probiotics is shown to better reflect the biodiversity required to achieve homeostasis in the human gut.

 

BioCeuticals scientific research

BioCeuticals has established research relationships with the University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital, as well as Cultech and UK universities and hospitals to test a number of BioCeuticals probiotics supplements.

All BioCeuticals probiotic supplements are formulated based on available scientific studies, so you know there is evidence that each ingredient has a therapeutic effect. But, of course, you’d feel even more confident in your supplement if you knew that particular formulation and that particular brand had been put to the test. That’s why BioCeuticals has been investing in clinical trials for its probiotic supplements.

 

What to look for in a probiotic supplement:

  • Multistrain probiotic blend with a high CFU count
  • Proven benefits with years of therapeutic use
  • Backed by scientific research and clinical trials
  • Dairy-free
  • Heat stable where appropriate
  • A member of the International Probiotics Association – the global voice of probiotics.

 

 

Further Information:Â