Confusing I know.
I've been taking Vital Reds for over a year now. I had been dealing with painful IBS-D symptoms for more than a year when I started Vital Reds. I spent more days in bed in pain and close to the bathroom than out of bed. I had tried probiotics, tried cutting out gluten, cutting out milk products, then all dairy, and nothing helped in a significant way. I became depressed and felt utterly hopeless having been through so many tests and scans and no help from doctors because "IBS-D, no real treatment available." A friend brought over some healthy/organic/energy type ingredients and wanted me to try this smoothie recipe thing she designed. I did get a nudge in the right direction after a few days, but within a few days, I was back in bed most days. It helped, then stopped helping.
I don't remember how I found Vital Reds. I normally roll my eyes at these kinds of claims but figured I had wasted more money on stupider things so why not try it?
Within a week I was out of bed as often as I was in bed. I experienced some energy return while taking Vital Reds daily, mixed in a smoothie with bananas and spinach (sometimes kale but it's so bitter!), and I started to experience normal bowel movements. Not every day but more days then not. For three months I saw continued improvement in regular normal bowels and energy and mood. With energy and mood came increased activity and then came increased stamina.
Having gone through the three-month supply, I decided to test the efficacy of Vital Reds so I went to the local GNC and purchased super green powder, probiotic powder, and multi vitamin for menopausal women. Within two weeks I was back in bed every day dealing with painful cramping bowel, and smapsming pelvic muscles, back on painkillers, and back to being depressed. I continued with the GNC stuff for a full month to see if perhaps it was simply an adjustment thing with my digestive system.
I gave up and ordered a year supply of Vital Reds. Within a week I was back to being out of bed more often than in and within a month I was rarely in bed.
But a few months later the symptoms returned. I noticed if I skipped a day with Vital Reds, the following day my bowels stayed quiet but also didn't move. So I started using Vital Reds every other day, and that gave me a kind of every other day schedule. But then the every other day with symptoms turned into every day once again. So I started taking Vital Reds every third day, then every fourth. But now I was constipated and barely able to have a bowel movement. It seems my digestion can't make up its mind!
So now I use Vital Reds like a laxative.
I can't say this product is bad because it did help me. I don't know if my first batch of Vital Reds was made with better ingredients or if my digestion is contrary and doesn't like to be predictable or dependable.
Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend