What are probiotics?

The Food and Agricultural Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host.”  Probiotics are simply bacteria found in some cultured foods such as yogurt, kim chi, kefir and sauerkraut.  The use of this type of bacteria improves lactose digestion in people who lack it, meaning that if you have trouble digesting dairy products, probiotics may help. They also have positive effects on the immune system.

As an example, suppose you develop a yeast infection.  Many health experts will tell you to eat yogurt to help alleviate the symptoms.  This is because of the probiotics contained in yogurt.  A yeast infection is caused by different organisms.  Lactobacilli is a "good' bacteria present in a healthy vagina that helps keep the "bad" organisms in check.  If you're prone to them, consuming probiotics may help prevent yeast infections. They can also help decrease the duration.

Moreover, studies have shown that three or more servings of dairy products a day have lowered levels of obesity.  Thus, dairy products combined with probiotic bacteria can improve health. Many cultures around the world who have high levels of health consume cultured foods every day for the health benefits.

Other conditions in which probiotics play a major role are:  diarrhea, chronic use of antibiotics, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, and certain allergies.  What effect does probiotics have in common with all of these conditions?

Probiotics alleviate diarrhea and have been an effective treatment, especially in children.  While antibiotics are used to kill bacteria, it is also true that they can kill off good bacteria as well.  Probiotics replace the good bacteria that are lost.  As it relates to irritable bowl syndrome, probiotics have shown to provide some relief from diarrhea and bloating. Inflammatory bowel disease when treated with high levels of probiotics has shown to decrease flare ups of the disease.

For those who cannot tolerate lactose, studies have concluded that consuming yogurt and other fermented dairy products (like kefir) aided in the digestion of lactose.  So too, probiotics have been shown to reduce the systolic pressure in those suffering from hypertension.

Cancer causing agents such as chemicals can reside in the gastrointestinal tract.  The use of probiotics has shown to decrease one’s cancer risk.  Moreover, probiotic cultures in the form of fermented milk reduce the likelihood of bladder cancer.  Studies to determine the effects of probiotics in dairy foods have shown a reduction in cases of high cholesterol.  However, research is still ongoing. 

Finally, a recent study reported that there was a 50% drop in incidence of atopic eczema in children who were receiving a probiotic supplement.  Moreover, it was concluded that exposure to specific microbes early in a child’s life may also decrease allergies as well.

Probiotics and its utilization can help to treat acute intestinal infections, aid in the digestion of lactose, improve health, and possibly reduced risk of disease.  Studies are ongoing to determine the benefits of probiotics.  However, so far there seems to be positive results.