What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can be introduced into the digestive system through food. Probiotics are used to replenish the good bacteria which have been depleted by the use of antibiotics or other drugs.
Our body is a warehouse of bacteria – good and bad. Bacteria are everywhere in the atmosphere including within our body. Essentially there are two types of bacteria – those which are good for us and the pathogens (or bad bacteria) which can harm us. Our gut contains millions of these bacteria. Probiotics are supplements containing the beneficial bacteria found in the human digestive tract which promote good gut health.
How Probiotics Work
Our body contains a miniature ecology of microbes which are collectively known as the gut flora. Most of the live bacteria which we ingest die when they reach the acid conditions of the stomach. The probiotics attach themselves to the wall of the intestine unharmed by the gastric, pancreatic and bile juices to reach the colon alive. They then increase the number of beneficial bacteria and fight the harmful ones thus, maintaining a good balance.
Why Are Probiotics Oh So Good For Us?
The excessive use of antibiotics can put the good bacteria in our body out of gear. Symptoms like lack of vitality, allergies, fatigues and headaches also keep us from performing at our optimum. The inclusion of probiotic bacteria in our diet can easily replenish and boost the system.
Our mothers and grandmothers have known for ages that certain fermented dairy products contain live bacteria and these foods are supposed to be good for us. Recent investigations also seem to support these views. Foods which contain probiotics have live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts, which when consumed, are beneficial for the host. They have been known to provide a multitude of health benefits like helping to reduce certain diarrhea illnesses, assist in digestion for people with lactose intolerance, enhance poor or compromised immune functions, lessen constipation, control thrush, help patients with urinary tract infections, control food allergies and even lower cholesterol.
With a diet which is choc a block with probiotics, travel abroad can become less hazardous as your body learns to tackle many foreign bacteria types.
So Which Foodstuffs Contain Probiotics?
Inulin, raw oats, unrefined wheat, yoghurt and a number of other foods which are specifically manufactured to contain probiotic additives. You have to take a good look at the labels on the food packaging.
How Long Do These Foods Keep?
Ideally probiotic yoghurts and drinks must contain at least one million live bacteria per gram, but there are no universally recognised methods for measuring the numbers of live bacteria. You’ve got to check the “use by” or “best before” date and use them as far away from those dates as possible. That will ensure that you get the probiotics when they are most active. This is because the number of live bacteria inevitably drops off with time.
While the verdict isn’t in yet, most studies show that probiotics are good for us. So go ahead and dig into that bowl of yoghurt.
