Probiotic Bread

You do not really need probiotics, says Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., reporting in 2010 for Mayo Clinic.com, but the probiotic, meaning "for life," bacteria in these foods may help regulate your digestion, protect you from harmful bacteria and boost immunities. Probiotics replace or supplement "good" microorganisms your body may be missing. Probiotic bread is an innovation which provides the benefits of probiotics in a universally accepted form of food.

Probiotic Bacteria

Probiotic bread and foods contain living microorganisms which are scientifically documented to provide positive health effects in humans and animals. According to probiotic investigators at Enzyme Stuff.com, the strength of a probiotic is measured in colony forming units, CFUs per portion or dose. Some foods may provide as many as 250 million to 20 billion viable organisms per day. Enzyme Stuff.com describes over 35 bacteria as probiotics. In addition to bread, probiotics are commonly taken in yogurts, cheeses and in capsule form. Traditional baked goods are not probiotic because the high heat of the baking process kills all bacteria. It is essentially sterile when eaten.

Bread Patent

In 2006 the Swedish corporation, Celac Sweden, applied for a U.S. and European patent for production of a probiotic bread. The exact probiotoc bacterial strains are proprietary, but they belong to the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Weisella, Bifidobacterium and Propionibacterium. The Probiotic bread contains hundreds of millions to billions of live bacteria when completed. It uses a special sourdough which pre-conditions the bacteria to grow better and a post-baking injection process to instill more bacteria into the finished product. It is said to produce many of the beneficial effects of probiotic foods.

Biochemistry

Bread made with wheat and similar grains contain gluten which causes celiac disease in a small percent of the population. Wheat also contains proteins which aggravate irritable bowel disease, IBD, and ulcerative colitis, UC. A 2005 study reported in the "American Journal of Gastroenterology," conducted by the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Canada, describes a probiotic called VSL#3 Probiotic-Mixture, which can be added to bread. It produces enzymes that digest the offending proteins. It produced remission in 77 percent of the UC patients with no ill effects. A similar 2007 study in the "Journal of Food Protection," documents that VSL#3 Probiotic-Mixture also eliminated wheat allergies and other gastrointestinal problems.

Benefits

Katherine Zeratsky lists benefits from probiotic breads and foods. In addition to treating IBD, UC and certain intestinal infections, they can overcome diarrhea caused by antibiotics, treat urinary tract and vaginal yeast infections, reduce bladder cancer recurrence, treat childhood eczema and reduce the severity of colds and flu. Zeratsky cites a Swedish study in which employees received the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri. They missed less work for gastrointestinal and respiratory illness than employees not given the probiotic. Probiotic bread makes administration easy and efficient.

Application

Probiotics are live bacteria and other microorganisms of a generally safe nature. But Mayo Clinic.com advises that any overall alteration to your intestinal flora can cause major readjustments--not necessarily beneficial or comfortable. Consult your doctor before consuming probiotic bread or other probiotic foods.