For some years now, they’ve been causing a real buzz. Probiotics - the new wonder remedy for digestive upsets – also seem to offer endless other benefits for human health.
Probiotics: what exactly are they?
The WHO (World Health Organisation) clearly defines probiotics as foods or supplements that “contain live microorganisms which, when ingested in sufficient amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. How do they do this? Probiotics, which are actually bacteria or yeasts, encourage a healthy balance in our gut flora. The many studies conducted on the subject have clearly identified gut microbiota (which contain some 100 billion bacteria) as playing a crucial role not only in our digestive systems but in our health as a whole.
Probiotics/prebiotics: what are the differences?
Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts which nourish and stabilise gut flora, while prebiotics can be considered probiotic performance-boosters – they increase their activity. A kind of ‘fertiliser’, prebiotics are found primarily in inulin and fibre (particularly fructans). The symbiotic combination of probiotics with prebiotics thus leads to improved efficacy and increased health benefits.
What are the various strains of probiotics?
There are many strains of probiotics, each with different compositions and offering different health benefits. One probiotic may stimulate intestinal transit while another improves lactose tolerance, etc. The best-known strains are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus and Saccharomyces, found in fermented products, but there are many more. These strains are themselves sub-divided into several categories. There are thus multiple possible combinations and benefits to health.
What health benefits have been established for probiotics?
The many scientific studies conducted in this field over recent years have confirmed probiotics as an indisputable aid to human health, with one of the most-discussed areas of study being intestinal transit problems. This is significant given that poor digestion is a common complaint among Western societies. Probiotics have proven efficacy in this area: demonstrated health benefits include improved transit and tolerance to lactose, accelerated recovery from diarrhoea and gastroenteritis and decreased IBS symptoms.
Other promising research
Studies have also highlighted probiotics’ broader potential for supporting human health. It seems they may boost the immune system and protect against serious diseases such as colon cancer; they may also have a preventive effect against eczema and a curative one in fungal infections (particularly vaginal mycosis). All these findings need corroboration by future studies, but given the proven virtues of these bacteria, it seems likely that other, as yet unknown, health benefits will emerge.
Where are probiotics found?
Probiotics are naturally present in fermented products such as yoghurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, as well as in olives and brewer’s yeast. Consuming a diet rich in probiotics (combined with prebiotics whenever possible) is thus one way of benefiting from these substances’ properties. But supplementation also offers important advantages here, for two main reasons: the benefits gained from the combined effects of different strains of bacteria/yeasts, and the fact that the probiotics go directly to the gut. Why so? It’s thought that up to 90% of probiotics – which are only properly effective when they reach the gut, and more specifically the colon - may be destroyed by acidity in the stomach. Capsules avoid this problem because they dissolve only when they arrive in the gut, and can be used as a treatment – an additional advantage since in order to be effective, probiotics need to be taken every day on a sustained basis.
Keywords
72 Days
Great company to deal with. I receive their products quicker than my orders from Sydney Australia. Well done.
HARDY Chris
79 Days
Fast and easy once again.
Niels Groving
83 Days
The shipping & delivery is quite efficient to me !
LEUNG Wing Chau
85 Days
Easy to deal with, good website and excellent product
STONEHOUSE Kim
85 Days
Well from my placing order to delivery !!!
DILLON Patrick M
86 Days
Site easy to handle, Information clear and simple, price affordable, quick delivery
Paulo Teixeira
88 Days
Bon service
Keith Ross
90 Days
Excellent product and delivered at a good price
Jim
90 Days
I bought super ashwagandha, super Maca, and adrenal support. Very good products. It helps with thyroid and adrenal gland problems. Fast delivery, happy customer!
LIEBENS Kim
91 Days
Speedy and efficient service (via FedEx).
Barry Humphries
93 Days
The ordered item quite efficiently delivers to me !
LEUNG Wing Chau
93 Days
Just perfect
Leny bermondsey
93 Days
Very good, and very efficient.
Mo
95 Days
Excellent and thrustworthy!
KLAVENES Bjorn
102 Days
I am very happy with the products, they are clean and strong. You get real improvment in health. But your resent change with the desing of packets is stylish but not attractive. Also I wish back the fast delivery.
MU