You've probably seen the advertisements. Exceptionally slim and wholesome-looking individuals wax euphoric about the merits of yogurt, typically accompanied by computer animated graphics depicting the inner workings of their digestive systems as they gurgle away happily, all thanks for the wonders of probiotics. You may be wondering, is the probiotic phenomenon just marketing hype designed to rake in more profits for dairy producers? What are probiotics anyway?
Probiotics are Living Organisms
When you eat products containing probiotics, you're eating live organisms. Bacteria and yeasts, to be precise. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus. Yeasts are single celled fungi that have nuclei.
The Department of Human Nutrition at Kansas State University explains that there are 20 known species of microorganism that are considered to be probiotic, or beneficial to health. One type of yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, and several types of bacteria, many of which belong to the Lactobacillus family, have been identified as probiotic.
Probiotic organisms are present in cultured dairy products, including yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream and the fermented milk beverage known as kefir. The existence of probiotics attests to the fact that not all bacteria are harmful. They live in the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy humans, where they provide known benefits.
Probiotics Aid in Digestion
We do not have the capacity to digest everything we eat on our own. Fortunately, as USProbiotic.org explains, probiotic organisms step in and take up the slack where our own digestive systems leave off. Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that probiotic organisms feed on. They are present in such foods as whole grains, onions, honey and fortified foods and beverages. Probiotic organisms are able to live and thrive in the human digestive system due to our consumption of these foods. In the absence of prebiotics, probiotic organisms would struggle to survive due to the harsh conditions present in the human intestine.
Probiotics Benefit Health
The effects of probiotics on human health are becoming increasingly apparent as science confirms what folk medicine has believed for a long time -- fermented milk products have beneficial effects on human health. Pennington Biomedical Research Center has stated that probiotics are helpful in addressing such intestinal conditions as lactose intolerance, Crohn's disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Atopic eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, and atopic dermatitis are also thought to be improved through the use of probiotics.
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