Frequently Asked QuestionsHow to use and mix
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We haven’t included any flax oil in Absorb Plus for three reasons: Firstly, we wanted the product to work for people who have a complete fat intolerance, secondly, any cold-pressed oil needs to be kept refrigerated and in a dark container at all times or the fat denatures and becomes rancid.
This would pose serious problems in shipping the product to you, so we chose instead to keep the product fat-free and encourage you to add your own from a bottle of flax oil you can buy refrigerated at the grocery store and then keep in your fridge.
Thirdly, as different people can tolerate different levels of fat (dependent on type and location of illness and degree of inflammation), we felt it best to allow you to add the level of fat that’s right for you. We suggest you start with 1 teaspoon of organic, cold-pressed flax oil per shake (whip with Absorb Plus and water in the blender) and gradually increase to 1 tablespoon of flax oil per shake. Flax oil is a very delicate, unstable oil, so make sure you only buy an organic, cold-pressed brand that’s been kept in the refrigerator. Be sure to buy a small bottle and keep it refrigerated, use it up within 4-6 weeks of opening so it doesn’t start to oxidize (become rancid) and irritate your gut.
If you’ve been hemorrhaging or are very sensitive to oil, you may want to keep your bottle of flax oil in the freezer (it doesn’t solidify completely) and squeeze it out as needed – this reduces the oxidation by 95%. If you find you’re still sensitive to flax oil, then try the Udo’s Choice Oil Blend – you may find it better tolerated.
Also, if you’re going to buy flax oil, contact the company to ascertain whether they cold pasteurize the oil. If they don’t and you’re highly sensitive, you may react to the tiny mold spores or parasites that may be present in oil that hasn’t been cold pasteurized.
Depending on your level of health (liver function, antioxidant capability, etc.) you’ll be able to consume more or less oil. So let your body and your symptoms be your guide and find the level of supplementation that’s right for your body.
You can also use hemp oil, but the taste is quite strong so you may not like it. You may want to use flax oil in one shake, then Udo’s in the next, and so on throughout the day. The Udo’s is more expensive though, so if cost is an issue, then just use the flax oil. If you’re completely intolerant of any liquid oils, then take enteric coated capsules of either flax oil, or fish oil (make sure the company tests for fish oil toxicity though) to get your anti-inflammatory Omega-3 and other essential fatty acids.
Cold-pressed flax oil is absorbed very quickly and even people with a marked ‘fat-intolerance’ have no problem with it. Since the 1950’s, most westerners have been severely deficient in Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) which leads to a wide variety of problems in the body. Regular ingestion of flax oil cures this deficiency.
Experts say you can safely supplement up to 8-10 tablespoons per day of flax oil and a good maintenance dose is 2-4 tablespoons per day.
Flax oil has a very mild, unobtrusive taste and is also great in salad dressings, drizzled over cooked vegetables, or stirred into dips, salsa or yoghurt. However, do not heat the oil or use it to fry foods as this destroys the Essential Fatty Acids.
Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring also contain high levels of Omega-3 and other ‘good fats’ (EFA, GLA) needed by the body. If you try to work flax oil (Essential Fatty Acids) into these other areas of your diet it will soon be easy and delicious to get the amount you need each day.
The other major benefit is that Omega-3 is a powerful anti-inflammatory and has been used solely in double-blind, placebo controlled studies to induce remission in patients with Crohn’s Disease (The New England Journal of Medicine, June 13, 1996).
Jini Patel Thompson (the formulator of Absorb Plus) consumed 1-2 shakes per day off and on during both her pregnancies and whilst breastfeeding.
We did have one customer who went on a semi-elemental diet during her pregnancy – using Absorb Plus as her primary source of nutrition, but she also consumed fresh pressed vegetable juices to provide other essential nutrients. Her baby scored 9/10 on the Apgar test and continues to thrive.
Please try to add Udo’s Oil or flax oil to the shakes as they are key for brain development in the fetus and also for your health. The only instance where you would need to exercise caution is if you’re diabetic – as the carbohydrate component of Absorb Plus goes into the bloodstream very quickly. In this case, please consult with your physician.
1. To maintain your current weight whilst increasing your level of nutrition
2. To resolve malnutrition and gain solid, healthy weight (not fat)
3. To control calorie intake and lose weight whilst still getting good nutrition
Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, or simply maintain your existing weight, is simply a matter of calories ingested. Please see our Usage Guidelines for detailed instructions.
- Whip up your Absorb Plus shake in the blender or BlenderBottle first as usual
- Take out 2 ounces of shake and mix in your probiotics with a spoon, to form a smooth paste
- Add the paste mixture back to the rest of the shake and stir well with a spoon to mix thoroughly
- Drink as usual
Ingredients / Formulation
Carbohydrates: The carbohydrate mix is composed mostly of maltodextrin, which has a slower uptake into the bloodstream than glucose or fructose. This helps you avoid getting a ‘sugar rush’ with the resultant high-low mood cycle.
Fats: Absorb Plus doesn’t contain any fat – for 3 specific reasons. However, we do encourage you to add as much organic, cold-pressed flax oil as you can tolerate..
Natural Flavors and Sweeteners: A natural fruit-source monosaccharide sugar called Fructose, a monosaccharide sugar called Dextrose and a plant extract called Stevia. Fructose is the natural sugar found in all fruits and some vegetables. Stevia is a 100% natural plant extract that is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. It is the best alternative to sugar on the market and preliminary studies suggest it’s actually beneficial for diabetics. NOTE: We also have an UNSWEETENED VANILLA version of Absorb Plus.
Absorb Plus is one of the few products on the market containing 100% natural flavoring. Our unique natural flavor blends include French Vanilla, Berry Fusion, Chocolate Royale, Unsweetened Vanilla, Simply Chocolate and Simply Vanilla and are truly yummy. Suffice it to say, we have spent considerable time and effort getting each flavor to taste absolutely delicious.
Amino Acids: Absorb Plus contains an extensive array of free-form amino acids; specifically selected for people in disease states.
Vitamins and Minerals: Our vitamin/mineral profile is unusually extensive and specifically formulated for those with stomach and bowel sensitivities. Each vitamin/mineral is present in its most easily absorbed form.
The sodium level in Absorb Plus is set to provide a balanced profile of electrolytes – since many people consume Absorb Plus as their sole food source for several weeks, or months.
If you’re combining usage of Absorb Plus with regular food, then you may just want to decrease the amount of salt in your other foods, if this is a concern. But again, if you’re not sure, then please check with your doctor.
Also, depending on the person’s size, they will consume anywhere from 3 to 10 shakes per day. Since iron is a very powerful substance, it would be very hard to set an amount that suited everybody and wouldn’t lead to iron toxicity for some.
After a bout of severe intestinal haemorrhaging in 1998, Jini’s weight dropped to 99 pounds (she’s 5’7″) and her albumin levels showed she was severely malnourished. After receiving a blood transfusion, she refused all drug treatment and her doctor advised complete bowel rest – to allow the intestine heal. Continuing to eat regular food simply re-opened the wounds and started the bleeding again. Therefore, her nutrition needed to come from a completely elemental (pre-digested) liquid source.
Jini tried each of the elemental (pre-digested) products provided by the hospital, but found the taste and ingredient list unacceptable. Rather than undergoing an operation to have a tube inserted in her stomach and the elemental products pumped in, she set out to find a natural, healthy, alternative.
After an extensive search of health stores and the Internet, Jini devised her own elemental formula by mixing together 6 different products. She did this 8-9 times a day to give her body the nutrients it needed in elemental (pre-digested for maximum absorption) form.
Using this formula, Jini gained 36 pounds of solid weight (not fat) in six weeks and her albumin levels were restored to normal. She went from being so weak she could barely move around her apartment, to cycling and lifting weights at the gym by the end of the six weeks at a healthy weight of 135 pounds.
Jini included directions for mixing up these elemental shakes in the first edition of her book Listen To Your Gut (Caramal Publishing 2000). In addition, as word spread through family and friends, people with a variety of afflictions (cancer/chemotherapy, trigeminal neuralgia, age-related malnutrition and loss of appetite, etc.) began contacting Jini for her weight gain and maintenance program.
However, many of these people and her readers commented that they found it too difficult and time-consuming to mix together so many different products. Having done it herself, Jini could sympathise with them! Fortunately, a year later, she met one of the founders of Imix Nutrition and he asked her to replicate her formula in one product. She happily agreed and the result is Absorb Plus.
We know of no other product comparable to Absorb Plus in quality and composition, that is also elemental (pre-digested for maximum absorption). In addition, our own trials, and letters from our customers show that Absorb Plus really works.
The reason Absorb Plus has a carbohydrate component is to provide balanced nutrition for people who are often malnourished and underweight. You need the carbohydrate component to be able to gain weight to your normal weight – this is very difficult (if not impossible) to do with whey protein alone.
“Regarding Folic Acid and Folates, there seems to be a common misconception that Folic Acid can only be synthetic. This misconception may have arisen from prior synthetic supplements being exclusively folic acid. The reality is that Folic Acid is simply one hydrolyzed form of folates.
Our product is a 100% USDA Organic extract of Organic Lemon Peel, standardized to 5% Folic Acid. In this water extract, there are numerous different naturally occurring folates. These naturally occurring folates can spontaneously change to hydrolyzed forms of folates (such as folic acid) if the environment around them contains acidity or moisture. They can also spontaneously dehydrolyze if the moisture is removed and the pH rises.
The most advanced analytical lab testing currently available unfortunately alters the folates due to the relative ease with which they hydrolyze. The results from that testing then are not accurate for folates. They are, however, accurate for Folic Acid. That is why it is easier for us to standardize to Folic Acid (and call our product Organic Folic Acid), since the Folic Acid is easily detectable when the folates are hydrolyzed with the testing. Rest assured, the anhydrous form will have the naturally occurring folates.”
Side Effects
*Please test a small amount first to be sure and if your allergy is severe, then don’t consume, or only do so under the supervision of your physician.
If you take Natren brand probiotics whilst consuming the shakes, this can often reduce the urgency and explosiveness of bowel movements. Take as directed on the bottle(s). Consuming the shakes at room temperature (not cold) may also help.
You’re still gaining weight because you’re not actually having diarrhea (characterized by undigested, unabsorbed food passing rapidly through the GI tract). You’re still absorbing all of the high quality nutrients in Absorb Plus, thus your body is putting on good, solid weight. You’re simply having liquid bowel movements since you’re consuming liquid food. Think of a breastfed baby – their stool is liquid and much more frequent than a formula-fed baby.
Sugar Content
1. ALL carbohydrates are sugars. Even the most complex carbohydrate, vegetable matter, plant matter, etc. when broken down (during the digestive process) is turned into a sugar. Therefore, it is not possible to remove the sugars from a nutrient shake, unless you remove the carbohydrate component – and then you might as well save yourself some money and just consume straight whey protein. You may wish to do this and it is possible to buy unflavored, unsweetened whey protein.
2. Also, just so you know, maltodextrin (a carbohydrate) is a specific molecular compound known as a glucose polymer – yes, in essence, a sugar, albeit one with a slower uptake into the bloodstream than glucose or fructose.
However, we are very pleased to announce we have an UNSWEETENED VANILLA Absorb Plus, for those who want to add their own sweetener, or prefer no sweetness. If you wish to then sweeten it a bit, you can use stevia or xylitol – both are compatible with an elemental diet.
We also have our new SIMPLY line; Simply Vanilla or Simply Chocolate, that are sweetened with dextrose and stevia (no fructose whatsoever). Keep in mind dextrose is a monosaccharide sugar.
You can also use flavor extracts or concentrates to change the flavor (www.naturesflavors.com has good ones), yet still remain elemental
“This research was done in Germany, requested by FMD Ltd Independent lab testing certifies that the gluten level in Udo’s oil is about 3.6 ppm.
At the moment the Codex Alimentarius (the UN/WHO’s expert body on nutrition) ruling is: Foods with less than 200 ppm of GLIADIN are “gluten-free”.
Gluten is not one single protein as such, but a group of very similar proteins found in grains that are ‘sticky’ by nature. These proteins are called ‘glutenins’, but most of the time, people just use the term ‘gluten’ when describing them. It is not the gluten as such, that is toxic or allergenic to celiacs, but the gliadin in it. Gliadin is part of a gluten molecule, but exactly what percentage can vary between different glutenins. It is never more than a sub-fraction.
This means that according to the Codex, any foods with less than 200 ppm gluten can be considered gluten-free (from their point of view), because in order to get this amount of gliadin, you need a much higher gluten concentrations, as the gliadin is just a component of gluten.
So – at the moment – foods with less than 200 ppm gliadin can be called gluten free. There is some discussion on whether this limit should be lowered further, but right now, it does not seem possible to detect gliadin at levels lower than 20-40 ppm.”
And Udo Erasmus himself, (the formulator of Udo’s Oil) provided us with this information in response to your question:
“1. The amount of oat germ/bran we use is very small. We use it in the oil blend to obtain phytosterols, which block cholesterol absorption and improve immune function. The oil blend contains 65mg of phytosterols from several seed sources per tablespoon of oil. Phytosterols are oil-soluble, and are therefore dissolved in the oil.
2. Proteins are not oil-soluble, and therefore remain primarily in the seed cake the hard seed leftover that remains after oil has been pressed from seeds. Therefore proteins are not found in Udo’s oil, although a very small amount of protein-like material may be present.
3. The total amount of protein-like material in unrefined oils (as opposed to grains or seeds) is 0.05% or less.
4. In Udo’s Oil, the amount of protein-like material derived from oat germ and bran is miniscule, because oat germ and bran make up less than 2% of the total ingredients in the oil. At a tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight per day, a 150-pound person would take 3 tablespoons, which would weigh 42 grams or 42,000mg. Of this, less than 840mg would be from oats. And of that, one half of one tenth of one percent (0.05%) 0.42mg or less might be protein-like material from oats. And of that, a maximum of only 15% would be protein that could offend, which brings offending protein down to a maximum of 0.07mg. Finally, that tiny amount of protein-like material is less offensive than an equal amount of offensive protein from wheat, rye, or barley.
5. Given the small amount of oats used, oat contamination by wheat is negligible. At worst, Udo’s Choice Oil Blend might contain a few nanograms (billionths of gram) of protein-like material from wheat.”
If you have any further questions, you can either search the subject on PubMed Medline (there’s new research on oats and gluten), or contact Flora Manufacturing directly: www.florahealth.com.
Benefits
The second issue to take into account is how much it would cost you to purchase all the same ingredients separately and mix them together – we researched this ourselves and it would indeed cost you much more. Then, if you add the cost of the all-natural flavors that Absorb Plus contains, the cost is even higher. So, basically, feel free to do your own research on the quality of our ingredients and you’ll realize that for the level of nutrition and bioavailability (absorbability) you’re receiving, Absorb Plus is actually very fairly priced – and if you utilize the volume discounts available from some retailers, it’s quite a good deal.
ELEMENTAL PRODUCT PRICE COMPARISON
The price of Absorb Plus is $6.18/serving before discounts. Here’s how that compares to other elemental diet products:
PEPTAMEN
8 OZ – 24 pack
list: $199 ($8.29/serving)
NOTE: only 19 g protein vs. Absorb Plus 27 g
VIVONEX
Box of 6 Packets – 6 servings
list: $64.99 ($10.83/serving)
NOTE: only 17 g protein vs. Absorb Plus 27 g
MODULEN IBD
400 g Canister – 4 Servings
list: $20.99 ($5.24/serving)
NOTE: only 12 g protein vs. Absorb Plus 27 g
Click here to see a detailed comparison of each ingredient in Absorb Plus and see all the different ingredients listed on the left hand side menu.
- People with sensitive digestive systems.
- People who have trouble chewing, swallowing, digesting or absorbing their food.
- People recovering from surgery.
See our Usage Guidelines for detailed information.
Maintain or gain solid weight (not fat) – Absorb Plus contains the right amounts and forms of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for gaining solid weight and NOT FAT. Many competing products contain mainly fat and sugar resulting in an increase in body fat. For weight gain, we recommend adding Flax oil or Udo’s Oil; providing you with more calories and Omega-3 essential fatty acid.
Daily nutritional support – Absorb Plus contains an extensive list of key ingredients, including protein, carbohydrates, free form amino acids and vitamins & minerals, allowing the ongoing healing of your condition to be supported and assisted nutritionally.
Delicious taste – Absorb Plus is a liquid shake available in six delicious tasting, all natural flavors: French Vanilla, Berry Fusion, Chocolate Royale, Unsweetened Vanilla, Simply Chocolate and Simply Vanilla. Taste the difference!
Mixes properly – Absorb Plus mixes easily shaken up in a BlenderBottle, or whipped on low speed in a blender, if you prefer.
Feel more energy and sleep better – Absorb Plus contains totally elemental (pre-digested) ingredients which require minimal digestion by your body. This gives your digestive system (particularly your bowel) a chance to rest and heal by itself. Over time, drinking Absorb Plus can therefore help you feel more energy during the day and get a more restful sleep at night.
Convenient and easy to use – Absorb Plus mixes so easily, it can be taken with you anywhere, whether to work, traveling and so on. It also mixes very well with other supplements, if desired. See our Recipe section.
Most elemental weight gain/maintenance products are available only in hospitals, pharmacies, or on prescription from your doctor. They are composed predominantly of fat (oil) and sugar. Unfortunately, the weight that is gained from these products tends to reflect the key components – ie. fat. It is very difficult to drink a sufficient amount of calories from these products as many people simply can’t tolerate the high oil content, or the taste. In addition, most contain artificial flavors and sweeteners – which research has shown to be harmful to the body. For people in extreme states of malnutrition, these products are usually pumped directly into the stomach via a ‘shunt’ or tube inserted through the skin into the stomach itself due to their unpalatable taste and composition.
There are many whey protein or food supplement products on the shelf in health stores or natural food stores, but they are rarely elemental (completely pre-digested) and thus they are less easily absorbed. And they too usually contain artificial flavors and sweeteners.
In contrast, Absorb Plus is composed of natural ingredients, flavors and sweeteners in elemental (pre-digested) form. Our customers constantly comment on how light and fresh tasting it is and we even have completely healthy people using it as their daily breakfast shake just because it’s such a nutritious, great-tasting product! Absorb Plus contains no oil so it’s ideal for people with a fat intolerance. But we do encourage our customers to add the amount of organic flax oil that they can tolerate (between 1 tsp to 1 tbsp. per shake) to reap the benefits of the essential fatty acids (EFAs) and anti-inflammatory action of the Omega-3s contained in this good fat. Due to the quality nutrition contained in Absorb Plus, you’ll gain solid weight (muscle, not fat!) if that’s your goal – of course, you can also use Absorb Plus to simply maintain your existing weight.
ELEMENTAL PRODUCT PRICE COMPARISON
The price of Absorb Plus is $6.18/serving before discounts. Here’s how that compares to other elemental diet products:
PEPTAMEN
8 OZ – 24 pack
list: $199 ($8.29/serving)
NOTE: only 19 g protein vs. Absorb Plus 27 g
VIVONEX
Box of 6 Packets – 6 servings
list: $64.99 ($10.83/serving)
NOTE: only 17 g protein vs. Absorb Plus 27 g
MODULEN IBD
400 g Canister – 4 Servings
list: $20.99 ($5.24/serving)
NOTE: only 12 g protein vs. Absorb Plus 27 g
Click here to see a detailed comparison of each ingredient in Absorb Plus and see all the different ingredients listed on the left hand side menu.
However, what he found helped was to also take some psyllium seed powder at the same time, to slow down the transit and bulk up the liquid. Otherwise the Absorb Plus would go through his system very rapidly. He would also take some L-Glutamine on an empty stomach to further assist – but he found the psyllium worked better for him than the L-Glutamine (which makes sense since L-Glutamine’s water-absorption activity is primarily in the colon). You could try this and see how it works for you.