Over the past several years I’ve noticed an increasing number of yogurt products in one of the local Publix grocery stores. As a big fan of yogurt, I was pleased to see a variety of options targeting different age groups and more products with added probiotics. But, what are probiotics and do they really enhance our health?
Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria that live in our intestines. The very first probiotic functional food (food with added health benefits) was Japan’s Yakult which was developed in the 1930s! Many fermented foods are rich in probiotics including tempeh, miso, yogurt and some soy products. In addition, several other foods such as Attune bars, kefir, cereals, Rachel’s Wickedly Delicious yogurt and Danone’s Activia also contain probiotics.
Probiotics can enhance intestinal health but each strain of probiotics is different and no two strains are alike making comparison studies difficult. The most well researched benefits from probiotic consumption include relief from constipation and helping curb diarrhea in infants.
Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus thermophilus and Saccharomyces have been studied extensively and have a great safety record. However, immunocompromised patients or those with compromised gut integrity should discuss probiotics with their personal physician prior to consuming them.
For an excellent review on probiotics and detailed information about specific strains, see this review published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0002-8223/PIIS0002822307022109.pdf