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Best time of day to take VSL3? And before or after a meal?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/17/2010 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone

I recently started taking VSL3 and was wondering when to take it (first thing in the morning, before bed) ??

Also, should I be taking it after meals or before ?

I am currently taking 3 sachets per day (not DS)

Thanks so much :)
Hanz
Posted 10/17/2010 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
I take mine in the later evening before bed so it's in my stomach all night, but I also have small snacks of VSL yogurt during the day. I have read that some foods (don't know about probiotics) are better consumed BEFORE gastric juices are triggered by food consumption. For example protein should be consumed first before veggies. Maybe some scientists here will speak up with an opinion.

And wow, 3 sachets and no tummy rumbles must mean yours likes VSL :-)
Posted 10/17/2010 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
I give my daughter her VSL #3 DS twice a day.  1st time it's usually late morning and then again at nighttime (usually after 8pm).  I've increased it to two full sachets per day.  I mix it in her applesauce or  vanilla pudding.  She does get bloated but I don't know if it's from the VSL or just the UC.

Posted 10/17/2010 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
The company says it doesn't matter when you take it.
Posted 10/17/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I generally take some in the morning and some in the evening. I don't pay much attention to whether it's before, after or during a meal except that I don' t take it if I'm drinking something hot at the time, given that the package insert says to mix it with something cold so as not to kill the probiotics.

I assume, since the instructions say it can be mixed with food (applesauce, ice cream, yogurt) that it's fine to take it with food.
Posted 10/17/2010 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I think we have had the best results taking it after a meal- I think it has
a better chance getting through the stomach without all the acid

I used to give it on an empty stomach thinking it would get to the colon faster
and by itself but since switching to after breakfast I think we are doing better.

I currently give it to my dd 1 x a day and use 1 1/2 packets and that seems to be a
happy place for us!
Posted 10/18/2010 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the feedback :-)

What an amazing forum and community this is,
I am so grateful to have found it...
Posted 4/17/2015 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hanzsolo - you really are uc med-free?
My son has uc. He was diagnosed in april 2014 at 9 yrs old. He has went two rounds with prednisone, and has used prednisone before due to asthma.
He is currently taking delzicol, and gets headaches every so often. Along with that he takes mercap. and was taking a regular type of probiotic, and currently takes vsl3. At times, I have him also takes aloe Vera juice, and drink/eat a lot of ginger tea, with turmeric - all to naturally reduce inflammation. The tea and aloe juice, he hasn't done so much lately, but I plan to step that up again.
The most interesting yeah part is your med- free. Tell me how that is working out for you please. Thank you and have a blessed day!
Lilly for alexxan
Posted 4/17/2015 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Med free is alluring to many, but unachievable by most (most likely misdiagnosis or spontaneous remission). This is an old post from 2010, so I doubt you'll get a response from the original poster. Ulcerative colitis is caused by your son's immune system attacking the lining of his large intestine, which results in diarrhea, blood, urgency, etc. His prescribed uc medications treat symptoms but cannot cure him. The immune system is always attacking him, should you cease those medications then the symptoms will return. The only way to truly go medication free and guarantee success is to have surgery, and have the large intestine removed.

It's fine to try alternative treatments in addition to prescription uc medications, but never in place of prescription. Good luck,
Posted 11/7/2015 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have been med free for 20 years except for 2 flare ups. However I'm having a flare up now and hoping the prednisone works again. So it's possible don't lose hope. No sugar, no milk, no wheat and good probiotics til it gets back under control.
Posted 11/7/2015 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Probiotics are generally best taken with food, so I take my VSL with my evening meal.
Posted 11/9/2015 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful about skipping a day--that can cause an issue (stomach ache). I read that on a post and it has now happened to my son. We also run a couple of months on VSL 3 and then a couple of months on another high-quality pro-biotic. Can't remember the name (we get it from a holistic doc in Arizona)--my wife plays pharmacist and I handle the daily exercise and watching-college-football parts of his treatment. Although latest studies suggest inconclusive to limited benefits, our experience has been pretty positive. Best of luck.
Posted 11/9/2015 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I take it whenever my tummy grumbles that weird grumble I have come to know, so not every day and any time it happens, but at least a few pills a week if it does not happen!
Posted 11/10/2015 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I take it first thing in the morning. I mix it with apple sauce.
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