Product FAQ
The main difference between Flourish Original and Flourish Junior is the taste, because each product is brewed using a different food source for the probiotics.
Flourish Original is brewed with 100% organic non-GMO sugarcane molasses and Flourish Junior is brewed with non-GMO sweet Sorghum, which has a milder, sweet apple cider vinegar taste.
Anyone at any age can take either version!
The ingredients of Flourish Original are purified water (reverse osmosis), the probiotic mother culture, and 100% sugarcane molasses (which is organic, non-GMO, non-glyphosate).
The ingredients of Flourish Junior are purified water (reverse osmosis), the probiotic mother culture, and non-GMO sweet Sorghum.
Flourish (Original + Junior) contain 11 probiotic strains from five different genera:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- L. bulgaricus
- L. casei
- L. fermentum
- L. plantarum
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- B. longum
- Enterococcus lactis
- E. thermophilus
- Bacillus subtilis
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
We guarantee each tablespoon of Flourish (Original + Junior) contain a minimum of 8 billion CFUs at the time of bottling.
- peanut
- tree nut
- dairy
- egg
- soy
- gluten
- shellfish
- carrageean
- glyphosate
- artificial colors
- GMO
- added sugar
Adults
15 ml (one tablespoon) by mouth once daily. May take up to four times daily if tolerated.
Children
Ages 5-12, give 5 ml-15 ml (one to three teaspoons) by mouth once daily. May increase dose or take twice daily if tolerated.
Ages 1-5, give 1 ml for each year of age by mouth once daily. (Ex: a two-year-old child: give 2 ml-4 ml once daily.)
Under 1 year, begin dosing at 0.25 ml.
Please refrigerate Flourish upon arrival. Our living probiotics may pressurize the bottle, because the bacteria continue to metabolize which produces carbon dioxide and nitrogen as by-products. Warm bacteria metabolize more than cool bacteria, so refrigeration is highly recommended to reduce pressure.
Do not freeze. Do not expose to excess heat (>140) or direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Flourish does not expire.
The date on the sticker on the bottom of each bottle is the ‘Best if used by’ date, when Flourish will be most potent. Beyond this date, the potency (measured by colony forming units [CFUs]) will decrease. Additionally, all the good bacterial byproducts are present after that date.
Yes, both Flourish Original + Junior are vegan-friendly.
Check out our customer testimonials to see success stories.
Flourish can safely and effectively be consumed at any time of day. For optimal use, Flourish is best taken on an empty stomach when stomach acid is lower (higher pH). However, our product can also be taken with food or after a meal.
For increased longevity, Flourish is best stored in the refrigerator. Storing in the refrigerator helps tame the natural flavor as well as slow down the metabolic rate of the bacteria.
For travel purposes or convenience of daily dosing, a bottle can be kept at room temperature for up to four weeks.
The bacteria cells are affected by temperature extremes. Do not expose to temperatures above 140 degrees and do not freeze.
Some have seen immediate results within a few days. Others have reported maximum benefit after a few weeks. It mostly depends on the health of one’s gut when starting, if there is an active, ongoing, or previous gut ailment, current or past antibiotic use, and a person’s nutritional habits. Many testimonials have been retrospective in nature, in that they look back over time and say, “I don’t get sick near as often” or “I feel better and more energetic.”
It is recommended that probiotic supplements should be taken regularly for at least three months to achieve the most extensive whole health benefits. Consistency is key!
In designing the recipe and formulation, we were very intentional in not only what is put in, but what is left out. Therefore, there are no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners, and no preservatives added to our probiotic liquid.
The result is a purely natural product that maintains the rich flavor of molasses (Flourish Original) or sweet Sorghum (Flourish Junior) but with an acidic overtone from the lactic acid naturally produced by the bacteria.
Many customers mix their daily dose of Flourish with a small amount of fruit juice. While it is recommended to take on an empty stomach for optimal performance of the probiotics, mixing with small amounts of another beverage is perfectly fine too.
One may experience mild gas, mild bloating, increased bowel frequency, change in stool consistency, or temporary diarrhea. These are natural consequences in the process of good bacteria taking habitat, restoring balance to the microbiota, improving digestion, and competing with bad bacteria. Many healthcare practitioners agree that temporary loose stools are actually a good indicator of the probiotics working and the bad bacteria exiting the body.
However, if prolonged diarrhea (lasting more than a few days) occurs, stop taking Flourish and consult with a healthcare practitioner.
It is also important to stay well hydrated and drink plenty of water during these periods of detoxification and bowel habit changes.
Humans were designed to have good bacteria living in our gut. Generations of cultures across the world have safely consumed fermented foods (containing multitudes of beneficial bacteria) along with various medications. That being said, clients should consult a healthcare practitioner if they are concomitantly using any prescription medication. Because good gut bacteria can improve digestion, some medications may be altered by such improved digestion. For example, improved/increased gut bacteria can alter the digestion and uptake of carbohydrates, which can in turn have a beneficial impact on blood sugar, which over time may change the required amount of medication. Probiotics can safely be used in diabetics, but close monitoring of blood sugars for the first few weeks is recommended. We also recommend taking Flourish at separate times from diabetic meds; for instance, take diabetic meds at breakfast and evening meal while taking Flourish at noon or bedtime.
Since probiotics contain live microorganisms, taking them at the same time as an antibiotic can kill a large number of the organisms, reducing the efficacy of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. Ideally, probiotics will be taken a minimum of 2 hours apart from antibiotics. Similarly, Saccharomyces might interact with antifungals, reducing the efficacy of this probiotic. Probiotics should also be used cautiously in those taking immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, azathioprine, and chemotherapeutic agents, since some probiotics could cause an infection or pathogenic colonization in immunocompromised people. Consult a healthcare practitioner if there are questions.
Using the old-world, traditional fermentation style allows the bacteria to regulate the pH in their environment. Lactobacilli are named as such because they produce lactic acid, which lowers the pH. During the fermentation process, we do not chemically alter the pH as some other commercial processes do. Therefore, the consortium is allowed to reach its desired pH, which ranges from 3.2-3.5. The human stomach fluctuates between pH 1.5-3.5 depending on physiologic state, fasted or fed.
An empty stomach has an approximate pH of 3.5. As such, flourish probiotics can survive quite well in the empty stomach because that is the environment in which they were grown. The strains included in Flourish are known to be hearty, resilient survivors of the stomach environment. Also, several of our bacterial strains are spores’ formers, which allow them to pass unscathed through the stomach and reach the intestines where they are active.
Yes, we utilize independent, third-party testing laboratories to test for both good bacteria and bad bacteria. These labs ensure that we have a minimum colony forming units of the beneficial bacteria and confirm the absence of harmful bacteria.
Our formulations are tested by a third-party independent lab for histamine levels and have reported as undetectable. Several reasons for this could be substrates used, bacterial species present (low histamine producers), and if any histamine were present, some of the other microbes could consume it. So even though our formulations include a Saccharomyces species, it does not induce a histamine level.
Yes, we recommend taking Flourish while on an antibiotic to replace the good bacteria that is being damaged by the antibiotic. The probiotics will not hinder an antibiotic at all (they are made to kill both good and bad bacteria!), but antibiotics are definitely harmful to probiotics.
Dosing recommendation: Space the antibiotic and probiotic accordingly so they are not in the stomach at the same time. For instance, if an antibiotic is just once daily in the morning, take Flourish in the evening. If the antibiotic is twice daily (breakfast and supper), Flourish can be taken at lunch and/or bedtime.
It is best to consult with your healthcare professional prior to taking any supplements. However, it is generally accepted that probiotics like Flourish are safe during pregnancy.
Taking Flourish during pregnancy may help ease some of the discomfort associated, such as constipation, heartburn, and fatigue.
Research has shown that a probiotic supplement during pregnancy helps to establish a good range of healthy bacteria in the baby’s developing digestive tract!
Read our blog for more information.
If you don't see your questions answered, please contact us at [email protected].
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