A liquid is convenient, but it needs a few habits that a capsule does not. You have to shake a liquid product, measure it, sometimes mix it with something and store it properly after opening. Each of these steps has a technical reason.
Why the instructions on the label are not a formality
The instructions for use describe the conditions under which the producer states the product’s composition and quality parameters. The measured portion, the way you prepare it and the storage conditions are part of this statement.
There is also a legal side: the recommended daily portion and the warning not to go over it are required elements of a food supplement label.
The most important practical rule: always follow the instructions on the specific package. Products differ in composition, form and storage needs, so general advice does not replace the label.
Measuring the portion
Measuring cup, cap, spoon – why they are not the same
The producer gives the portion size in millilitres and usually adds a tool to measure it. If you use a different tool instead, you get an error that is hard to estimate.
| How you measure | Typical accuracy | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring cup supplied with the package | Highest, the tool is made for the product | The scale matches the portion on the label |
| Cap that works as a measuring cup | High, if the producer describes it this way | Not every cap is a measuring cup |
| Tablespoon | Varies with the type of spoon | The volume differs between cutlery sets |
| Teaspoon | Varies, also with how you fill it | With larger portions, the error adds up |
| Small glass or another household container | Low, no scale | Measuring by eye is not reliable |
For example, THESYBIN food supplement has a daily portion of 6.5 ml, dispensed with a pump.
How to read the liquid level in a measuring cup
Put the measuring cup on a flat surface and read the level at eye height. If you read it from an angle, the result is too high or too low.
In a narrow container, the surface of the liquid forms a curve called a meniscus. Read the level at its lower edge, unless the producer says otherwise.
If bubbles stay on the surface after shaking, it is better to wait 10 seconds or more until they go down.
More: How much is 36 mg – how to understand the doses on supplement labels
Shaking before use
Liquid products are sometimes suspensions or emulsions, in which some components are not permanently dissolved. During storage, they can sink or collect near the surface, so the liquid is no longer the same all the way through.
Shaking evens this out before you measure a portion. Producers usually say how long to shake, for example from five to ten seconds.
Without shaking, a portion may contain less or more of a component than the label states. So the point is to match the specification, not to get a stronger effect.
More: Why some products need to be shaken before use
Keep the bottle closed and shake it gently, because strong movements put air into the liquid and make it harder to read the level.
What you can mix a liquid supplement with
Cold drinks and foods
Producers often allow you to take the product straight from the measuring cup or to add it to a cold drink or food: water, juice, yoghurt, a smoothie or porridge after it has cooled.
In this case, use the whole portion at once. Rinse the container with a little liquid and drink it, because some of the product stays on the sides.
What to avoid
The main limit is contact with high temperatures. Instructions usually say not to add the product to hot food or drinks.
The reason is technical: a higher temperature can change the composition and quality parameters that the producer states. This is information about matching the specification, not about how well the product works.
More: Can you add a supplement to hot tea – what temperature does to the ingredients
It is also better not to prepare a portion in advance. If the instructions do not say you can, measure the portion just before you take it.
Time of day and regularity
If the producer does not give a time of day, you can choose. The best time is the one you can really remember every day.
Some instructions give advice about meals, for example taking the product with food or between meals. This advice comes before general rules.
Whatever the time, one rule applies: do not go over the recommended daily portion. If you miss a portion, this is not a reason to take a double one.
More: Liquid supplement, capsule or powder – how the forms differ
After opening the package
Liquid products usually have separate storage requirements after opening. A common instruction is to keep the product in the fridge, as with THESYBIN food supplement, and to use it within a set time.
Close the bottle right after measuring a portion. Do not leave it in the sun or near a source of heat. It is a good idea to rinse and dry the measuring cup.
The best before date applies to an unopened product that is stored as recommended. After opening, use the product within the time the producer gives.
More: Storing supplements – temperature, light, moisture and the fridge after opening
The most common mistakes
- Measuring with a spoon instead of a measuring cup. The volume of spoons differs between cutlery sets, so the portion no longer matches the label.
- Not shaking. With suspensions, this means the composition of the measured portion may differ from what the label states.
- Adding to hot drinks. Instructions usually do not allow this, because the components are sensitive to temperature.
- Storing outside the fridge after opening. If the producer says to keep the product cool, room temperature goes against the instructions.
- Preparing a portion in advance. A portion measured a few hours earlier is a situation the instructions do not cover.
- Making up for missed portions. Do not go over the recommended daily portion, no matter how many days you missed.
Summary
Liquid products need a few steps that capsules do not: shaking, measuring the portion with the tool supplied, care with hot drinks and correct storage after opening.
These steps help to make sure that the portion you take matches the producer’s statement and that the product keeps its quality until the end of its shelf life. They do not make the product work better. They are the conditions for using it correctly.
One last note: always follow the instructions on the specific package, and do not go over the recommended daily portion.
FAQ
What should I do if I lose the measuring cup?
Contact the producer or use a container with a millilitre scale, for example a kitchen measuring jug or a dosing syringe from a pharmacy. Measuring with a spoon does not make sure that the portion matches the label.
Can I add a liquid supplement to coffee or tea?
If the instructions say not to add the product to hot drinks, you cannot do this until the drink has cooled. The information on the package of the specific product decides.
Do I need to take the product at the same time every day?
If the producer does not give a time or a link to meals, you can choose. A fixed time is simply easier to remember.
What should I do about a portion I missed the day before?
Do not make up for it, because you must not go over the recommended daily portion. The next day, take the usual portion as the instructions say.
Sources
This article is based on typical instructions from producers of liquid products and on general practical knowledge. For the required elements of a label, it refers to the laws listed below. The producer of the specific product always sets the detailed recommendations.
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.
- Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements.