Probiotic yogurt drinks claim to contain beneficial bacteria and yeast that aid in digestion and promote overall health. Probiotics, literally meaning ''for life,'' are live microorganisms similar to ones found in the human intestine. Also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria," these substances' health benefits remain under study, though the early findings are promising. A July 2008 report in the "Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology," for example, concluded that probiotics can affect immune response, including shortening the duration of the common cold. The report also cautioned that more study is needed.
Definition
The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have defined probiotics as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." Though these organisms can be seen only under a microscope, their use predated that instrument's invention. Some fermented probiotic foods and drinks were commonly ingested in ancient times. Probiotics have captured the attention of modern Americans, whose spending on probiotic supplements nearly tripled between 1994 and 2003.
History
Probiotic drinks such as kefir date back 2,000 years. These yogurt-like beverages originated in the Caucasus Mountains of Europe, where inhabitants who drank them lived to be 100 years old or more. The word kefir derives from the Turkish ''keif,'' meaning ''good feeling.''
Benefits
Some probiotics have been found useful in treating diarrhea. A 2005 conference of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the American Society for Microbiology reported the evidence, along with conclusions that some probiotics are also useful in treating infections of the urinary tract or female genital tract and irritable bowel syndrome. Other probiotics, according to the panel, can help reduce the recurrence of bladder cancer and shorten the duration of an intestinal infection. The panel recommended additional research, especially large clinical trials, be conducted. A panel at Yale University reported in 2008 that several strains could reduce diarrhea, including that associated with antibiotic use. Several studies have also suggested that certain probiotics, especially Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, may be useful for irritable bowel syndrome.
Nutrition
Probiotic yogurt drinks are sold under various names, including drinkable yogurt and kefir. Labeling of probiotic drinks are not regulated, so some products do not name the specific strains of probiotics contained within. Different strains of probiotics can be beneficial for different conditions and symptoms. One popular brand of kefir lists 12 live and active cultures on its label. Kefir is a good source of nutrition, despite the debate about all of the benefits of probiotics. It is easier to digest than regular yogurt. A 1-cup serving of plain kefir contains 110 calories, though flavored varieties contain more. It also provides 11 g of protein, along with 10 percent of the recommended daily value of Vitamin A, 4 percent of Vitamin C, 25 percent of Vitamin D and 30 percent of calcium.
References
- BodyEcology: Why Dannon Activa™ and Other Mass-Market Probiotic Products are Not as Healthy as You Think
- Lifeway Kefir; Lifeway Foods Inc.; Morton Grove, Ill.
- The New York Times: Probiotics: ''Looking Underneath the Yogurt Label''; Sept. 28, 2009
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