Quick Facts About Probiotics
August 26th, 2007
- Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to those living in the intestinal tract.
- Most probiotics are bacteria.
- They are also referred to as friendly and good bacteria.
- Probiotic comes from the Greek word ‘biotikos’ which means ‘for life’ while antibiotic means exactly the opposite.
- For centuries, certain probiotic foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut were used.
- There are more than 400 different species of bacteria living in humans and in the case of intestinal bacteria, its role is to complete the breakdown of food that was not digested in the small intestine.
- Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of friendly bacteria residing in the colon.
- When probiotics and prebiotics are put together, they are called synbiotics.
- There are good and bad bacteria co-existing in our intestinal tract. This balance between beneficial bacteria and potentially harmful bacteria is referred to as eubiosis. When the population of bad bacteria overtakes the good bacteria, it will lead to health problems such as:
- Irritable bowel syndroInfectious diarrheame (IBS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
- Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that causes most ulcers and many types of chronic stomach inflammation
- Tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Vaginal infections
- Stomach and respiratory infections that children acquire in daycare
- Skin infections (e.g. acne)
The causes of an imbalance in bacteria ratio are medication, disease, poor diet, stress, geographic location and age.
- Nobel Laureate Professor Elie Metchnikoff discovered the bacteria that makes yoghurt (lactobacillus) after he noticed that the Bulgarians who are high consumers of fermented milk and kefir, also enjoyed a longer life.
- A probiotic supplement has to have a protective coating so that the live bacteria will not be destoryed inside the acidic environment of the stomach.
- Refrain from consuming probiotics together with antibiotics.
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