Like so many things in nutrition and healing, people’s attitudes to fermented foods is coming full circle. Once common in many traditional cultures, and still today in Asia and parts of Europe, fermented foods are a potential source of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria, called probiotics, are a great way to maintain your digestive health. And now, thanks to a resurgence in awareness about their health benefits, many people are looking for ways to include them in their diet again.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics, when included in foods or supplements, are living microorganisms believed to have a health benefit, and which improve the microbial balance in our intestines. They can include some yeasts and bacilli, but are usually certain types of bacteria. The types of bacteria chosen are usually present in a healthy colon, and can include:
As you can see, there are many different types of beneficial bacteria. Most yoghurts and fermented foods contain a mixture of different strains, chosen to help maintain gut health. The different strains each have particular benefits, which make them more likely to be used in some situations. The most common of them, lactobacillus acidophilus, produces vitamin K, lactase, and acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin, which are anti-microbial substances. (Source – MayoClinic). Acidophilus is also part of our normal vaginal flora.
The lactic acid bacteria like acidophilus also produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide when they break down food in the intestine. This creates an environment which can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, sometimes even killing them. (Source here) There is more information (albeit of a more technical nature) on the effect of lactic acid bacteria on the immune system here.
Scientists don’t fully understand all the mechanisms by which probiotics provide their health benefits. They believe that there may be many factors at work, including supplying enzymes, or influencing enzyme activity levels in the colon (Dr Mercola). What they do know, is that you need to keep taking probiotics to maintain their benefits if you have low levels of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria. This is because the probiotics we take in food and supplements do not permanently colonize in the gut. But considering the ready availability of good (and tasty!) sources of probiotics like Dannon’s Activia, this should not be a problem. It’s an easy thing to do to add a tub of yoghurt to breakfast or lunch.
Like so many things in nutrition and healing, people's attitudes to fermented foods is coming full circle. Once common in many traditional cultures, and still today in Asia and parts of Europe, fermented foods are a potential source of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria, called probiotics, are a great way to maintain your digestive health. And now, thanks to a resurgence in awareness about their health benefits, many people are looking for ways to include them in their diet again.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics, when included in foods or supplements, are living microorganisms believed to have a health benefit, and which improve the microbial balance in our intestines. They can include some yeasts and bacilli, but are usually certain types of bacteria. The types of bacteria chosen are usually present in a healthy colon, and can include:
(Source: Wikipedia & UNM)
As you can see, there are many different types of beneficial bacteria. Most yoghurts and fermented foods contain a mixture of different strains, chosen to help maintain gut health. The different strains each have particular benefits, which make them more likely to be used in some situations. The most common of them, lactobacillus acidophilus, produces vitamin K, lactase, and acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin, which are anti-microbial substances. (Source - MayoClinic). Acidophilus is also part of our normal vaginal flora.
The lactic acid bacteria like acidophilus also produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide when they break down food in the intestine. This creates an environment which can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, sometimes even killing them. (Source here) There is more information (albeit of a more technical nature) on the effect of lactic acid bacteria on the immune system here.
Scientists don't fully understand all the mechanisms by which probiotics provide their health benefits. They believe that there may be many factors at work, including supplying enzymes, or influencing enzyme activity levels in the colon (Dr Mercola). What they do know, is that you need to keep taking probiotics to maintain their benefits if you have low levels of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria. This is because the probiotics we take in food and supplements do not permanently colonize in the gut. But considering the ready availability of good (and tasty!) sources of probiotics like Dannon's Activia, this should not be a problem. It's an easy thing to do to add a tub of yoghurt to breakfast or lunch.
Like so many things in nutrition and healing, people's attitudes to fermented foods is coming full circle. Once common in many traditional cultures, and still today in Asia and parts of Europe, fermented foods are a potential source of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria, called probiotics, are a great way to maintain your digestive health. And now, thanks to a resurgence in awareness about their health benefits, many people are looking for ways to include them in their diet again.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics, when included in foods or supplements, are living microorganisms believed to have a health benefit, and which improve the microbial balance in our intestines. They can include some yeasts and bacilli, but are usually certain types of bacteria. The types of bacteria chosen are usually present in a healthy colon, and can include:
(Source: Wikipedia & UNM)
As you can see, there are many different types of beneficial bacteria. Most yoghurts and fermented foods contain a mixture of different strains, chosen to help maintain gut health. The different strains each have particular benefits, which make them more likely to be used in some situations. The most common of them, lactobacillus acidophilus, produces vitamin K, lactase, and acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin, which are anti-microbial substances. (Source - MayoClinic). Acidophilus is also part of our normal vaginal flora.
The lactic acid bacteria like acidophilus also produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide when they break down food in the intestine. This creates an environment which can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, sometimes even killing them. (Source here) There is more information (albeit of a more technical nature) on the effect of lactic acid bacteria on the immune system here.
Scientists don't fully understand all the mechanisms by which probiotics provide their health benefits. They believe that there may be many factors at work, including supplying enzymes, or influencing enzyme activity levels in the colon (Dr Mercola). What they do know, is that you need to keep taking probiotics to maintain their benefits if you have low levels of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria. This is because the probiotics we take in food and supplements do not permanently colonize in the gut. But considering the ready availability of good (and tasty!) sources of probiotics like Dannon's Activia, this should not be a problem. It's an easy thing to do to add a tub of yoghurt to breakfast or lunch.
Also when anyone is on any antibiotic course just by adding some yogurt in the meal, a person can get rid of some side effects of the antibiotic like diarrhea and yeast infection.
Here”s another good video about probiotics : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neHbUI2JiPw although it does not mention the strains” names, it explains that supplements don”t work exactly the same with each other because of the composition of the strains. I just recently learned about these strains and now I”m wondering what strains are present in the other probiotic sources such as yogurt or kefir.
Like so many things in nutrition and healing, people’s attitudes to fermented foods is coming full circle. Once common in many traditional cultures, and still today in Asia and parts of Europe, fermented foods are a potential source of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria, called probiotics, are a great way to maintain your digestive health. And now, thanks to a resurgence in awareness about their health benefits, many people are looking for ways to include them in their diet again.
As you can see, there are many different types of beneficial bacteria. Most yoghurts and fermented foods contain a mixture of different strains, chosen to help maintain gut health. The different strains each have particular benefits, which make them more likely to be used in some situations. The most common of them, lactobacillus acidophilus, produces vitamin K, lactase, and acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin, which are anti-microbial substances. (Source – MayoClinic). Acidophilus is also part of our normal vaginal flora.
Very good information. Thanks for letting me know! Never thought that yogurts can be THIS healthy.
Also when anyone is on any antibiotic course just by adding some yogurt in the meal, a person can get rid of some side effects of the antibiotic like diarrhea and yeast infection.
Here”s another good video about probiotics : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neHbUI2JiPw although it does not mention the strains” names, it explains that supplements don”t work exactly the same with each other because of the composition of the strains. I just recently learned about these strains and now I”m wondering what strains are present in the other probiotic sources such as yogurt or kefir.