The Side Effects from the Feel Great System | Unicity Balance fiber & Unimate yerba mate

“What are the side effects of Unicity Balance and Unimate?” This is one of the first questions people ask when considering the Feel Great System.

The Feel Great System itself includes two science-based food supplement products. The first is Unicity Unimate, this is a yerba mate drink, and the second is Unicity Balance, this is a unique proprietary fiber matrix blend.

When used together, along with a time-based eating schedule we call 4-4-12 these two products work together synergistically to control hunger, reduce cravings, support healthy blood sugars and cholesterol, facilitate weight loss and reduce insulin resistance. Thereby improving overall cardiometabolic health.

So, with all these benefits, it would be natural for one to inquire about side effects. Is this almost seeming “to good to be true” that these two food-based supplements provide all these benefits. So lets tackle this question so that you can be reassured that they are safe for you to take. 

Article At-A-Glance

• The difference between Side Effects and Adverse Reactions.
• Why most trained medical professionals will want to know if the products have any Contraindications, Precautions and Interactions.
• Why it matters that the Feel Great products are listed in the Prescribers’ Desk Reference (PDR).
• Feel Great System Products are NSF Certified for Sport®.
• A look at Unicity Unimate: Caffeine, Nausea and more.
• A look at Unicity Balance: Mild Gastrointestinal Discomfort (GI), Drug interactions.
• What healthcare professionals are saying about Unicity Balance and Unimate. 

Side Effects vs Adverse Reactions

Before we get into the details of these Feel Great products, lets first provide a foundation of terminology clear up some confusion around it. To many people, the term side effect and adverse reaction mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably, which is incorrect.

In pharmacological terms, a “Side Effect” is a secondary unwanted effect that occurs due to a drug or therapy, while “Adverse Reactions” are unintended pharmacologic effects that occur when a medication or therapy is administered correctly.

So, what this means is that Side Effects could be harmful, while Adverse Reactions are generally not harmful, but more often just undesirable and temporary. Side Effects could be caused by an incorrect dosage or medical procedure, an allergic reaction, etc. While with Adverse Reactions, it can be stopped by either adjusting the dosage or completely stopping it.

The correct question we should be asking is if the Feel Great System products (Unicity Unimate and Balance) have any Side Effects, and do they have any Adverse Reactions. 

Contraindications, Precautions and Interactions 

To take this a little further, what most trained medical professionals would want to know is if the products have any Contraindications, Precautions and Interactions that we should be concerned about. I will break these down with these meaning.

• Contraindication - is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person.
• Precautions - Methods or procedures intended to prevent or avoid adverse outcomes.
• Interactions - A change in the way a drug acts in the body when taken with certain other drugs, herbals, or foods, or when taken with certain medical conditions. Drug interactions may cause the drug to be more or less effective, or cause effects on the body that are not expected.

The Prescribers’ Desk Reference (PDR) 

For more than 70 years, the PDR (formally called Physicians’ Desk Reference) has been the authoritative source on prescription drugs and science-based supplements. This resource is used in virtually every physician's office, pharmacy, clinic, and library, no medical reference is more current, more recognized, or more respected.

The PDR contains full FDA-approved drug label information and only science-based supplements, including warnings and precautions, and drug interactions. Every product listed in the PDR includes information on dosages, side effects, and safety information, such as contraindications, pregnancy ratings, and interactions with other drugs, food, or alcohol. Data on clinical trials is also included.

Unicity International, the founder and manufacture of the Feel Great System products, has more products listed in the PDR than any other supplement company in the word. Two of Unicity's flagship products they manufacture are Unimate yerba mate and Balance fiber matrix. These are the key products that are part of the The Feel Great System metabolic health program. 

These two products are listed in the PDR as shown in these links below:

• Unicity Unimate Yerba Mate: Listed in the Prescribers' Desk Reference (PDR)
• Unicity Balance Fiber Matrix: Listed in the Prescribers' Desk Reference (PDR)

Why does it matter that the Feel Great System products are listed in the Prescribers’ Desk Reference (PDR)?

For over 30 years, Unicity has been dedicated to developing high-quality products that contain the vital nutrients our body need all with the best in class manufacturing process, cutting-edge technology, and a mission to Make Life Better.

Having the Feel Great products listed in the PDR assures you, as the consumer, that you can get plain-English explanations for the safe and effective use of these products that is consistent with information referenced by healthcare professionals using FDA approved Product Labels and FDA approved Patient Information Leaflets.

• The Feel Great System Listed in the PDR: Why That Matters!

Feel Great System Products are NSF Certified for Sport®

We are proud of the fact that both of the Feel Great System products by Unicity (Unimate yerba mate and Balance fiber matrix) are NSF Certified for Sport®. What does that mean? 

NSF’s global Certified for Sport® program helps athletes, dieticians, coaches and consumers make safer decisions when choosing sports supplements. The Certified for Sport® certification is the only independent third-party certification program recognized by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the Canadian Football League.

Certified for Sport® is also recommended by the NFL, NBA, PGA, LPGA, CCES, CPSDA, iNADO, Ironman, NASCAR, Taylor Hooton Foundation and many other organizations seeking to mitigate the risks of contaminated dietary supplements. 

• The Feel Great System Helps Toronto Blue Jays MLB Slugger Vladdy Drop 42 Pounds

Unimate Yerba Mate Drink

Yerba mate is a beverage that is said to have various health benefits, such as relieving fatigue, aiding in weight loss, and treating headaches. However, some studies have suggested that consuming large amounts of yerba mate over a long period of time may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, such as mouth, throat, and lung cancer. This may be due to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in yerba mate because of the way it was processed, which are known to cause cancer. However, it should be noted that other substances such as tobacco smoke and grilled meat also contain PAHs. Drinking Unicity Unimate does not cause cancer. For more information on this topic, check out the two extensively researched blog articles.

• Does Unimate Cause Cancer? | Is Yerba Mate Safe to Drink?
• Can Yerba Mate Cause Cancer? A Look at How Unimate Is Processed

Caffeine in Unimate

The interesting thing about yerba mate, is that the plant produces a natural stimulant called Mateine, which is similar to caffeine but it has no side effects on your health, unlike coffee. Yerba mate provides you with long-lasting energy and also helps you relax at the same time.

Because Mateine acts so differently than caffeine by itself, this term has been widely used in South-America to designate the unique energizing and therapeutic effect of Yerba Mate.

Unimate is made up of a combination of caffeine, theobromine & theophylline, Mateine is, in fact, the term used to name the alkaloids combination present in Yerba Mate.

Because of the presence of Theobromine and powerful antioxidants, the caffeine naturally present in the yerba mate plant is absorbed into the system at a much slower rate than any other stimulating beverages. This results in a totally different effect on the mind and body.

Unimate has been tested for an upper caffeine limit, and it has about as much caffeine as one cup of premium coffee. However, since natural ingredients can have some variation, the caffeine in Unimate amount is not standardized. As written in the PDR, is states “Unimate is generally well tolerated. Unimate contains moderate amounts of caffeine; caffeine-sensitive individuals should exercise caution when using this product”.

Drinking Unimate on an Empty Stomach

Some sources have stated that people should avoid drinking yerba mate on an empty stomach. As they claim doing so puts you at high risk of experiencing negative adverse reactions such as acid reflux, heartburn, nausea, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, and heart palpitations just to name a few.

With the Feel Great System, it is recommended to start your day with Unimate. Unimate boosts your morning's focus and energy without breaking your fast. There are many other proven benefits of taking Unimate first thing in the morning – this includes increase production of keystones, increases our metabolic rate and reduces oxidative stress.

If you find that Unimate gives you any adverse reactions in the morning, we suggest either increasing the water amount and drinking it slower, or cut back to a half packet for the first week and gradually increase towards the one packet serving as recommended. I have often recommended to try eating a hard boiled egg when you drink you Unimate, just go get some substance in your stomach, and the egg will not impact your blood sugars. 

Unimate Interactions

Prescriptions drugs that are to be taken on an empty stomach in the morning, should not be taken with Unimate if the drug recommends “not to be taken with caffeine”. In this case, drink the Unimate one hour before or two hours after taking your medications. 

Related Unimate articles:

• Unicity Unimate Yerba Mate: Ingredients & Benefits
• Unimate vs other Yerba Mate Drinks
• FAQ: Unimate Yerba Mate Drink Frequently Asked Questions

Unicity Balance Fiber Matrix

Most people know that fiber supports digestive health. But in addition to aiding digestion, fiber can also help lessen the impact that excess carbohydrates and cholesterol can have on the body.

Unicity Balance is a pre-meal drink with a patented fiber matrix that includes bioactive plant compounds, polysaccharides, and micronutrients. The fiber matrix is designed to help ease some of the impact that excess carbohydrates and cholesterol can have on the body. Balance is formulated to provide critical vitamins, minerals, and soluble fibers to help curb your appetite.

May Cause Mild Gastrointestinal Discomfort (GI)

In the PDR, Unicity Balance is listed as being well tolerated. The only Adverse Reaction lists is that it may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort (GI), such as increased flatulence or loose stools, during the first month of initial use due to the increased uptake of dietary fiber. This GI disturbance usually disappears within the first thirty days.

The addition of fiber to a diet currently low in fiber, may cause temporary discomfort in your bowels (even diarrhea or constipation). Because fiber draws water to it (hydrophilic), constipation may occur in some people. If either of these occur, cut back on the amount of Unicity Balance to one-half dose (or less) for a few days, and then increase by one-quarter packet increments every few days.

Fiber needs water to work and a normal diet should contain eight or more glasses of water per day, so you also may need to increase the overall level of water you consume to reach normal levels.

Balance Interactions

Prescriptions drugs that are to be taken on an empty stomach are to be taken one hour before or two hours after taking Balance (it is considered a food). 

Related Balance articles:

• Unicity Balance Fiber: Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Naturally
• Does Unicity Balance Help With Weight Loss?
• Unicity Balance Fiber Matrix: Ingredients & Benefits
• FAQ: Unicity Balance Fiber Frequently Asked Questions

Feel Great is Supported by Science 

Unicity International not only believes in creating products that are innovative but also based on proven science. This commitment to cutting-edge development and efficacy has led to multiple third-party certifications, US patents, listings in the Prescribers Digital Reference (PDR), coverage of our clinical studies in scientific journals, and more.

• Unicity International: World Leader In Metabolic Health
• Are Unicity Products Safe? A Look into How Unicity Products Are Made
• The Cleveland Clinic Study: Unicity Balance (Bios Life) for Cholesterol
• University of Sydney: Blood Glucose and Blood Insulin Study
• The Zurich Clinical Trial: Unimate Yerba Mate Drink Results 

Supported by the Healthcare Profession

There is a reason the Feel Great System continued to gain so much interest is that people are are looking for a simple solution that is back by real health science (no false promises). There are thousands of medical doctors who recommend the Feel Great System to their patients. 

• The Feel Great System: Doctors Speak Out On Proven Medical Science
• The Feel Great System Is Endorsed By Healthcare Professionals