What are Probiotics?
Recently the idea of probiotics has gained an abundant amount of popularity. One question that
many individuals ask when they discuss probiotics, is what exactly are they. Probiotics are usually
described as being live bacteria or living microorganisms that are good for our health if individuals
consume a sufficient amount. They also colonize individuals guts. Usually when someone talks about
bacteria we automatically think its bad for us. On the contrary though, probiotics are usually referred
to as ‘good’ or ‘helpful’ bacteria.
Before we get in depth, one important factor about probiotics is where can we find them. It was
discovered that various fermented foods and natural drinks contain tons of
live bacteria, such as apple cider vinegar, kombucha, miso soup, yogurt, Kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh,
kimchi and many more. As well as, over the counter products, including pills, packets, and gummies,
although past findings discovered that boxes off the shelves contain live bacteria but not as much as
stated on the box. Probiotics are found in many sources and only a few were listed above. Since they
are so abundant, it is assumed that they would have various health benefits. Health benefits including
improvement of the immune system, modification of intestinal microflora, and anti pathogenic effects
(Faghfooria et al. 1539). Unfortunately, scientists are still trying to discover how they work but are
aware of how they keep us healthy. For example, when an individual takes antibiotics and loses good
bacteria, probiotics replaces them.
The world is full of billions of bacteria and various types are
classified as probiotics. Some of these types include, lactobacillus, bifidobacterium,
saccharomyces boulardii and can be referred to as Lactic acid bacteria, or LAB. Both lactobacillus and
bifidobacterium exist in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina of human beings and are widely found
throughout dairy foods such as yogurt and cheese. They are used to help with food preservation and
various other things. Each type has been found to help with different health conditions. Lactobacilli
was chosen as a probiotic because “they express many important criteria for probiotic selection
including high tolerance to acid and bile, ability to adhere to intestinal surfaces, antimicrobial activity,
producing exopolysaccharides and removing cholesterol (Faghfooria et al. 1539). Lactobacilli is also
said to be found in yogurt, which is what we are looking for throughout our project.
many individuals ask when they discuss probiotics, is what exactly are they. Probiotics are usually
described as being live bacteria or living microorganisms that are good for our health if individuals
consume a sufficient amount. They also colonize individuals guts. Usually when someone talks about
bacteria we automatically think its bad for us. On the contrary though, probiotics are usually referred
to as ‘good’ or ‘helpful’ bacteria.
Before we get in depth, one important factor about probiotics is where can we find them. It was
discovered that various fermented foods and natural drinks contain tons of
live bacteria, such as apple cider vinegar, kombucha, miso soup, yogurt, Kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh,
kimchi and many more. As well as, over the counter products, including pills, packets, and gummies,
although past findings discovered that boxes off the shelves contain live bacteria but not as much as
stated on the box. Probiotics are found in many sources and only a few were listed above. Since they
are so abundant, it is assumed that they would have various health benefits. Health benefits including
improvement of the immune system, modification of intestinal microflora, and anti pathogenic effects
(Faghfooria et al. 1539). Unfortunately, scientists are still trying to discover how they work but are
aware of how they keep us healthy. For example, when an individual takes antibiotics and loses good
bacteria, probiotics replaces them.
The world is full of billions of bacteria and various types are
classified as probiotics. Some of these types include, lactobacillus, bifidobacterium,
saccharomyces boulardii and can be referred to as Lactic acid bacteria, or LAB. Both lactobacillus and
bifidobacterium exist in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina of human beings and are widely found
throughout dairy foods such as yogurt and cheese. They are used to help with food preservation and
various other things. Each type has been found to help with different health conditions. Lactobacilli
was chosen as a probiotic because “they express many important criteria for probiotic selection
including high tolerance to acid and bile, ability to adhere to intestinal surfaces, antimicrobial activity,
producing exopolysaccharides and removing cholesterol (Faghfooria et al. 1539). Lactobacilli is also
said to be found in yogurt, which is what we are looking for throughout our project.
Probiotics may have been discovered to help with individuals health but in order for it to have an
affect a sufficient amount must be present. It is suggested that a probiotic should provide at least 1
billion CFUs, also known as colony forming units with doses between 1 billion and 10 billion CFUs
daily for adults (How Many Cells or CFUs). The amount suggested per individual may vary as result
of the condition that is being treated and if the probotic is a single type of organism or a combination.
With that being said research should be done in order to take the right amount for specific situations.
Overall, Probiotics have shown great promise when it comes to an individual's health. Even though a
probiotic is a defined as bacteria it has been discovered that, microorganisms in the human body
outnumber human cells by 10 to 1 (Probiotics: In Depth). With that being said, probiotics are very
important and the more research done on this topic the more individuals will learn about the benefits of
probiotics.
affect a sufficient amount must be present. It is suggested that a probiotic should provide at least 1
billion CFUs, also known as colony forming units with doses between 1 billion and 10 billion CFUs
daily for adults (How Many Cells or CFUs). The amount suggested per individual may vary as result
of the condition that is being treated and if the probotic is a single type of organism or a combination.
With that being said research should be done in order to take the right amount for specific situations.
Overall, Probiotics have shown great promise when it comes to an individual's health. Even though a
probiotic is a defined as bacteria it has been discovered that, microorganisms in the human body
outnumber human cells by 10 to 1 (Probiotics: In Depth). With that being said, probiotics are very
important and the more research done on this topic the more individuals will learn about the benefits of
probiotics.
Works Cited
Faghfooria et al. “The Investigation of the Diversity of Lactobacilli Spp. and Assessment Their
Some Probiotic Properties in Traditional Dairy Products in East Azerbaijan Province in Iran.” Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, School of Pharmacy, 1538-1545. Nov. 2015, http://ijpr.sbmu.ac.ir/article_2115_7c78dd30451d4976265bde2baacd4ad8.pdf
“How Many Cells or CFUs Should My Probiotic Have?” ConsumerLab.com,
www.consumerlab.com/answers/how-many-cells-or-cfus-should-my-probiotic-have/probiotic-cells-CFU/.
“Probiotics: In Depth.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 22 Feb. 2018, nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics/introduction.htm.
Comments
Post a Comment