Benefits of Probiotic Foods

With more emphasis on eating healthy or organic foods, diet trends tend to pop up and it can be difficult to tell what is a fad and what is genuinely healthy and beneficial. Probiotics are a newly popular diet concept, but they have some clear benefits. They are also easy to incorporate into a regular diet, making them a valuable addition to a person's nutritional regime.

Definition

Probiotic foods contain certain types of bacteria that cause health benefits when eaten frequently enough. According to the World Health Organization and the United Nations, probiotics are "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a beneficial health effect on the host." Probiotics are a natural remedy for digestive problems and a preventative approach to health. Probiotics can help stop some problems from ever starting in the first place. Rather than having to take antibiotics to stop a health problem once it has already started, people can take probiotics regularly to help prevent the same problems from beginning.

History

Nobel Prize winning Russian scientist Elie Metchnikoff was the first person to describe the properties and benefits of probiotic foods in his book "Prolongation of Life." He suggested in this work that certain beneficial bacteria should be ingested to help counteract the effects of more harmful bacteria living in human intestines. These helpful bacteria became known as probiotics in the 1960s. Probiotics as a health additive have been popular throughout Europe for a few decades, and the trend is slowly spreading to America.

Benefits

There are many cited benefits of probiotic foods, though none of them are definitive. While probiotics can help with certain ailments or reduce the likelihood of some infections, they do not cure diseases. They are a dietary supplement, and they can help overall health and productivity. For example, probiotic foods can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Probiotics can help people with lactose intolerance manage their condition more easily, and their bodies may even be able to accept more lactose with the help of probiotics. Diarrhea prevention is the most commonly noted benefit of probiotic foods, and there is some speculation that ingesting probiotic foods while abroad can help lessen the likelihood or severity of travelers' diarrhea.

Warnings

There is some evidence that probiotic diets can be harmful to individuals with certain health conditions, such as acute pancreatitis. Probiotics can harm the bacterial balance in terminally ill patients. People with preexisting health conditions should consult a doctor before beginning a probiotic food regimen since while probiotics can help some conditions, they might aggravate other conditions. There is also some debate over whether or not probiotics effectively replace the natural cultures in human intestines, and what the long-term consequences of probiotic use will be for some individuals. It is important to consult with a doctor or nutritional expert for advice on probiotics and their potential benefits.

Foods with Probiotics

Some foods have naturally occurring probiotics in them, but the increasing popularity of probiotics has led to production and sale of specialized foods with added probiotic benefits. Strains of probiotic cultures are found in dairy products, such as yogurt. Not all yogurts contain probiotic cultures, but the brand packaging should list this information for help in selection. Buttermilk also contains probiotics, as do certain types of cheeses and specialty dairy products. Some companies have added probiotics to their products, resulting in probiotic versions of milk, butter, cereal and even chocolate. Foods that have added probiotics will advertise this on their labels, and probiotic foods can be purchased in most grocery stores.

Resources

• Mayo Clinic Information on Probiotics