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20 Questions We Get A Lot
For some time now, I've been wanting to publish a list of the most commonly asked questions we get about our products, our company and its history. So here without further adieu are those questions and answers. As always, we'd like to thank everyone of you out there, because if it weren't for you, there'd be no questions to answer!
- How long has your company been in business?
Master Supplements, Inc. introduced Theralac in 2003, however, Randy S. Porubcan, (the developer of all MSI products) has been in the probiotic field both agriculturally and commercially for about 35 years. Mr. Porubcan has built some the facilities that grow the bacteria around the world. All of our products are manufactured in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
- What are probiotics?
Probiotic means literally “for life”. Probiotics are the good bacteria that reside in your intestinal tract which keep the bad bacteria from causing problems. These “bugs” are the first gift from mother to child in the birth canal.
- Why is it important to take a probiotic?
Due to aging, stress, illness, the foods we eat, medications, proton pump inhibitors, birth control pills, etc. good bacteria are depleted and allow the bad bacteria to create an imbalance in your intestinal tract. This can cause gastrointestinal issues and compromise your immune system.
- What does CFU mean?
CFU stands for Colony Forming Units- the unit of measure of probiotic supplements. 30 Billion CFU means that there are 30 Billion colonies formed. A colony may or may not be started by a single organism. This is the proper way to enumerate how many bugs are in each capsule.
- Does Theralac need to be refrigerated?
We recommend that you refrigerate your bottle of Theralac upon receipt. It is shelf stable for thirty day, and even after that, will very slowly loses some of its potency. Master Supplements, Inc. stores Theralac at -10 degrees until the day of shipment. There is no other handling of the product.
- Do you ship Theralac with any kind of cold pack?
We do not ship Theralac with any type of ice pack. Our belief is that the ambient humidity can be harmful to the probiotics. We ship Theralac all over the US and up to this point have not been required to replace product for being compromised. We utilize trademarked packaging called TIP- Totally Inert Packaging. This packaging protects the probiotics in transit.
- What is the best dosage for me?
The best dose varies from person to person. If a person is taking Theralac as a health maintenance tool, the one/day for two weeks and two/week after that is an adequate dose. If you are bothered by specific gastrointestinal issues, we suggest taking Theralac daily for at least thirty days and taper down from there. You’ll be the best judge of quickly to taper down by the way you feel. We have customers taking as many as 4 per day.
- How do I know that what is advertised is actually in the capsule?
A third-party independent lab analyzes every batch of Theralac for strength, lactic acid activity and purity. To display the lab report for your batch by going to our website (http://www.theralac.com/), clicking on the Quality Assurance tab and entering the lot number that is on the bottle.
- Won't the live bacteria be killed by my stomach acid?
Probiotics are very sensitive to the low pH in your stomach. 99% or more can be lost if unprotected. Theralac has a patented acid-proof delivery system utilizing sodium alginate (a seaweed compound) and grape skin extract. When these elements are exposed to stomach acid, they form a solid gel matrix around the live bacteria, allowing them to arrive alive in the intestinal tract- which is where they work.
- Do I take Theralac on an empty stomach or with a meal?
It does not matter whether you take Theralac on an empty stomach or with meals. Many probiotic companies suggest taking on an empty stomach because there is less stomach acid at that time, but as explained in question #9, the acid-proof delivery system guarantees that your probiotics arrive alive.
- What is the best time of day to take Theralac?
There should be little or no interaction between Theralac and your other supplements (except Enzalase- the enzymes affect the prebiotics in Theralac) so the time of day is not relevant. If you have any questions at all, consult your practitioner.
- Do you have a money-back guarantee?
We offer a 100% money back guarantee (minus shipping and handling), which we quite frankly very rarely need to invoke. We will ask the reason for the return, primarily to assure that you are taking Theralac optimal to your particular situation.
- What if I have specific questions about Theralac?
If you have specific questions regarding Theralac, you can either call the Master Supplements, Inc. Customer Service line and speak to Sarah at (800) 926-2961 ext 3, M-F 9-5 EST. Note: Sarah is on the telephone a lot so if you get her voicemail, please do not be discouraged- she always returns her calls promptly. Another excellent resource is the website, http://www.theralac.com/, which features a “FAQ” section.
- Can children take Theralac?
We have many children that take Theralac. See question #15 for administering Theralac to children or seniors unable to swallow a capsule. Dosage for children should be about ½ of an adult dose. When utilizing #15 method, about 50% of the probiotics will be destroyed in the stomach, which makes it a perfect dose for children.
- How do I administer Theralac to a person unable to swallow a capsule
To administer Theralac to an individual unable to swallow capsules we recommend the following: Open a capsule and pour contents in a single pile onto a mashed banana, yogurt or applesauce. Do not stir, but instead fold over, trying to keep contents as intact as possible. You’ll see purplish lumps form which is the alginate delivery system beginning to work. Your child will not taste the probiotics and will receive approximately 50% alive in their gut- a perfect dose for children.
- Will Theralac interfere with any of my other medications or supplements?
As stated in question #11, there should be little or no interaction between Theralac and other supplements or medications. We suggest you separate taking Theralac and other supplements or medications by 2-3 hours. Always check with your practitioner if uncertain.
- What can I do to boost the potency of Theralac?
Soluble fiber boosts the power of Theralac because that is what probiotics feed on. An excellent soluble fiber is TruFiber®- (http://www.trufiber.net/) it was specifically formulated to accompany Theralac. It also has two fiber-digesting enzymes to make the soluble fiber more accessible to the probiotics. Other forms of soluble fiber include oatmeal, apples, flaxseed, etc.
- Can I take Theralac at more than the maintenance dose of two/week?
We have many individuals taking more than the maintenance dose of two per week. Refer to question #7- you will be the best judge of what works for you. If you find a daily dose is what makes you feel best, feel free to continue. There is little chance of overdosing on Theralac. The human GI Tract has 100 trillion “bugs”- you would need to take 34 capsules of Theralac to reach 1% of that amount. A sign you’re taking too much might be a significantly loser stool- some of our chronically constipated customers would appreciate that!
- Will I see a noticeably difference from taking Theralac on a regular basis?
The effects of Theralac differ from person to person, depending on their level of dysbiosis. We have had customers report feeling relief from their GI issues in as little as 24 hours. The norm is anywhere from 5 days to a week. Of course in the instance of severe dysbiosis, recovery may take a bit longer.
- What is this “die off” I hear about?
The official term for the die-off is the Herxheimer Reaction. It is a period of discomfort (usually from 1-5 days) that sometimes results when harmful microorganisms are killed off and give off toxins which can cause diarrhea, headaches, body aches, etc. As aggravating as it may be to experience this, it’s actually a good sign- it means that the probiotics are working. If you can, stick out the die off, eat small meals and drink plenty of water. Another choice is to reduce the number of capsules to 2 per week, increasing to one a day then taper back down again to 2 per week. The will reduce the initial die off effect.
That's all for this newsletter.
See you next time, and thanks for reading!
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You can purchase Theralac®, Enzalase®, Truflora™, or TruFiber®,
by calling (800) 926-2961 ext 3 during
normal business hours. (9:00 - 5:00, M-F, EST)
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Click each bottle above to learn more about that product.
As always, we strive for exceptional customer service.
If you have any comments or suggestions,
please let us know.
Sincere Thanks,
Jeff Thurston
Master Supplements, Inc.
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