Yogurt cups displaying the Live & Active Cultures seal, or the word “probiotic” on the label, are increasingly popular in the dairy aisle of the grocery store. This yogurt may look, taste, and be made in the same way as other yogurts, but it contains a significant amount of probiotics: live and active bacterial and/or yeast cultures.
Probiotics have been shown to offer many benefits to the human body. In fact, these probiotics that are introduced into the body through food or other means, such as supplements, are similar to or even the same as the bacteria that live within the human gut. The human gut is home to a large and diverse community of bacteria that helps keep us healthy and properly functioning, so probiotics work to simply accentuate what the body already has.
There are many types of bacteria used as probiotics, but the two most frequently used groups are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Each group contains different species, and each species contains different strains. One strain will have a unique characteristic that allows it to provide a unique benefit to the human body. Therefore, separate strains are considered different probiotics, which benefit the body in different ways. For example, one probiotic can help with digestion, while another may help boost your immune system.
Source: Cultura RM Exclusive/Rolf Ritter
Because of growing interest in using natural approaches to maintain health, an increasing number of probiotic products are being manufactured and consumed. Probiotics can be found in dietary supplements, creams, and suppositories (solid medications that melt upon insertion into a body cavity), as well as in food products such as yogurt, juices, chocolate, and granola bars.
Due to the extensive marketing of probiotics, the research on these microscopic organisms has not been able to keep up with the ever-increasing manufacture and consumption of probiotic products. Probiotics have been shown to aid digestion, but there is currently limited scientific evidence supporting other specific health uses and benefits. Because there is not enough evidence to show that probiotics are effective in reducing the risks of specific diseases, the United States FDA has not approved any health claims for its use and is currently regulating probiotics as only a dietary supplement.
Healthy individuals have not experienced any detrimental side effects from using current commercially sold probiotic products, so go ahead and give your gut a boost! However, don’t rely on probiotics to solve any serious health concerns until more information comes out, and always be sure to consult your physician.
Feature Image Source: yogurt by Bob Mical
