by Maria C Collins

Created on: February 13, 2009   Last Updated: March 22, 2010

Probiotics, the word means for life, are tiny microorganisms, which occur naturally within the human body. They protect the mucosal cells of the intestines from invasive harmful germs. If the natural balance of the gut is upset, it can lead to bad digestion, lowered immunity, diarrhea, constipation, excessive wind, and bloating and yeast infections.

It is possible to supplement one's natural probiotics with powdered supplements, or with foodstuffs, containing probiotics, such as yoghurt and some drinks. The most well known of these foods are special yoghurts and dairy products. The varieties of bacteria most often used in supplements, or foodstuffs, are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria; these assist the 'friendly' bacteria naturally occurring in the intestines. They do many things, including improving the digestion and bolstering the immune system. They can also help with diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, and they are particularly helpful when a course of anti-biotics have killed off the flora in the gut. Some research indicates that probiotics may reduce the risk of colon cancer. They are useful too for older people, since the good bacteria in the gut dwindle with age.

There is a currently a trial of probiotic yoghurts in United Kingdom hospitals, where it is hoped that they will, in conjunction with strict infection control proceedings, lessen the incidence of hospital-acquired infections such as c-difficile. In one particular hospital half of the elderly patients in a hospital consumed probiotic drinks, the other half did not. Over a six months period, among the patients who did not have the drinks, there were six cases of hospital acquired infection. In the patients who had taken the probiotic drinks there were none at all. There was also another surprising finding in this experiment, the patients who took the drinks recoverd more quickly.

European Union law restricts farmers in the use of antibiotics in pigs. The greatest cause of food poisoning in the EU was salmonella from pork. Research in Ireland has shown that probiotic supplements given to pigs reduces salmonella and may reduce e-coli and other disease.

Some scientists argue probiotics cannot possibly work since there are thousands of these microorganisms in the gut and the amount contained within a supplement or a pot of yoghurt cannot possible make a difference. Others researchers say that probiotics within supplements and foodstuffs multiply in the intestines and restore the natural balance.

The name probiotics is modern but the medical practice is as old as humanity. The microbes, that we call probiotics, occur naturally in foods and ancient people, all over the World, knew that fermented foods, such as beans, cabbage, and milk were a remedy for digestive problems. Russian and Mongolian soldiers took sauerkraut on their long campaigns to guard against stomach problems and diarrhea. Many old civilizations drank soured milk or ate yoghurt for the same reason. Scientists have long observed that people, whose diet is high in fermented food, suffered less intestinal diseases and food poisoning.

It is unlikely that normal healthy people eating a normal healthy balanced diet need to take dietary supplements, but there is no harm in eating yoghurt, or drinking one of the probiotic drinks each morning. We know that these have nutritional benefits, quite apart from probiotics, such as calcium and other minerals and vitamins. We do not need advertising hype to know what is good for us, any of the foods that contain lactobacilli and bifidobacteria will do. There is no need to buy the well-known and expensive brands.

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