What are probiotics?
What are probiotics?
Probiotics is the name given to live microorganisms — like bacteria or sometimes yeast — that are similar to the helpful microorganisms found in the human gut. Probiotics are credited with promoting overall health by increasing the good bacteria in your system.
Where can you find probiotics?
Probiotics are available in foods and are also inserted into dietary supplements in the form of capsules, tablets or powders, for example.
What foods contain probiotics?
Examples of foods containing probiotics include yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, certain types of juice and soy beverages. Probiotics can be added to the food or supplement during preparation or manufacture. At other times, the bacteria is already naturally present in the food. Usually, foods with labels that state "live and active cultures" contain some level of probiotics.
What are some of the health benefits of probiotics?
Proponents of probiotics believe they aid in regulating healthy immune responses, assist in digestion and keep the linings of your intestines healthy. There is some controversy, however, as to whether natural forms of probiotics are truly powerful enough to reach therapeutic levels.
How do probiotics work?
Probiotics appear to alter how your immune system reacts to invading microorganisms. Scientists theorize that probiotics might actually compete with harmful bacteria and that they boost or enhance your own immune system. Some experts believe that they might also suppress your immune system if it overreacts, lessening allergic reactions, for example.
Can probiotics control diarrhea?
There are many reasons why one gets diarrhea, and probiotics are not a cure-all for all forms of this condition. Yet studies suggest that probiotics have been effective in treating traveler's diarrhea, for example. Diarrhea caused by antibiotics and some intestinal infections has also responded well to probiotic therapy.
Can probiotics help eliminate constipation?
Dr. Carey Strom, associate clinical professor of medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, tells CBS News that "although he does prescribe probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and diarrhea, he is not aware of any evidence that shows probiotics help with standard-issue constipation."
Can probiotics cure vaginal infections?
While probiotics have not been proven to prevent vaginal infections, many studies report that the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus, which comes in the form of a suppository, is effective in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Less definitive are the findings on whether eating yogurt enriched with Lactobacillus acidophilus is also beneficial.
Which other diseases might benefit from probiotics?
Researchers are conducting tests to evaluate the effects of probiotics on the following conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health:
- Infectious diarrhea
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
- Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that causes most ulcers and many types of chronic stomach inflammation
- Tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Vaginal infections
- Stomach and respiratory infections that children acquire in daycare
- Skin infections
What are the side effects and risks of probiotics?
"Probiotics' safety has not been thoroughly studied scientifically," according to medicinenet.com. Although historically, probiotics have not been thought to cause illness nor connected to any serious known side effects, some people have complained of mild, intestinal disturbances such as bloating or gas after using probiotic supplements or foods.
"More information is especially needed on how safe they are for young children, elderly people, and people with compromised immune systems," medicine.net adds.
