Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics and Prebiotics - Good Bacteria
Probiotics
Probiotics has originated from the Greek word 'pro' which means 'promoting' and 'biotic' means 'life'. Probiotics are the live microorganisms which when administered in adequate quantity promote health benefits. The live microorganisms are the bacterias. The common types of microbes used in the probiotics are Lactic acid bacillus, bifidabacillus, saccharomyces boulardii and yeast.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics act as a food for probiotics. Prebiotics are nondigestable carbohydrate which stimulates the activity of bacteria in the digestive system and also promotes health benefits.
Normally our digestive system has 2 types of bacteria - good or bad bacterias. When there is imbalance between these two bacteria's the digestive problems arise. Hence it is necessary to maintain the balance between good and bad bacteria to achieve the health benefits. The excess of medications, certain food items and diseases, imbalance these bacteria's. Now we can avoid the imbalance of bacteria's by eating proper food with probiotics. Probiotics are available in dietary supplements and food items. The two 'good bacteria' are - Lactic acid bacillus and Bifidobacteria.
Sources of probiotics and prebiotics - Probiotics are found in fermented food such as yogurt, frozen yogurt, candy bars, cereals and dietary supplements .
Prebiotics are found in oats, soybean, raw garlic, raw onion, bananas, wheat, barley, whole grain, honey and breast milk which helps to provide good immune system to the new born baby.
Health benefits of probiotics and prebiotics
1) Immune system - Probiotics and prebiotics play important role in protecting our immune system. Many people suffer from auto immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, allergic problems like frequent clod and cough, and other infectious diseases like ulcerative colitis, genital infection, etc. When immune system is impaired these above diseases occur and thus these diseases can be prevented by strengthening the immune system.
2) Digestive system - As mentioned above there are 2 bacterias in our digestive system - good and bad. The main idea of probiotics and prebiotics are not to destroy all the bad bacteria but to maintain the balance between them. When there is the imbalance of bacteria in digestive system the diseases like diarhoea, urinary infection and general weakness occur. Hence they helps to improve the digestion system and reduce the illnesses like indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and acidity.
3) Cholesterol and blood pressure levels- According to the studies people who consumed fermented milk or yogurt, with Lactic acid bacillus had reduction in blood pressure levels and serum cholesterol levels.
4) Treatment - Antibiotic treatment, dietary changes and stress leads to the alteration in normal bacterial flora in the intestine. Hence doctors prescribe probiotics in the form of capsule along with the antibiotic treatment so that the normal balance of bacteria are maintained.
5) Calcium absorption - Intake of prebiotic helps to absorb calcium from the body and other food items.
Risk of probiotics and prebiotics
Side-effects are rarely seen. If they are taken in normal and adequate quantity, side-effects are very less.
1) Excess consumption of prebiotics can lead to abdominal distension and increase in flatulence.
2) Dietary supplements or products that are manufactured may not have adequate amount of the probiotics or prebiotics.
3) The people with low immunity or immunocompromised people (people suffering from HIV or cancer ) must consult the physician prior taking the probiotics as they may get more sick after the intake.
Factors that influence the probiotics
1) Temperature - The important factor for the growth of probiotic organism is the fermentation at proper temperature. These probiotic organisms survive at lower temperature. That means higher the temperature , lesser the survival chances of the bacteria's. The temperature must be lower than 400 C
2) Water and moisture content - Higher moisture or water content, lower is the survival chance of probiotic.
3) pH level - Usually most of the bacteria's require low pH level to survive and grow. Lactobacillus and bifidobacillus can survive in lower pH level between 3.6 to 4.3 but other species require pH more than 4.6 otherwise they won't ferment.
Remember to always consult your doctor for long time consumption of probiotics or prebiotics as the quantity tolerance depends on person to person.
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