AGE OF PROBIOTICS

Gone are the days when mothers would go around with a glass of milk in their hands and children would never understand why cant their mothers “just chill” and let them enjoy their coke and pepsi. Well now the trend is different -it’s the PROBIOTIC AGE. Not that the coming of probiotic drinks have reduced the importance of milk, but it certainly has given us a healthier and a tastier option.

PROBIOTIC term is derived from a greek word meaning ‘for life’. Probiotics are ‘friendly’ bacteria that supplement the natural bacteria in your gut. These ‘friendly’ bacteria may help our digestive system work efficiently and aid good health.In your gut there are a huge variety of naturally occurring micro-organisms (tiny living things such as bacteria). Some of these micro-organisms may be harmful and some are ‘friendly’ and may help maintain a healthy digestive system.

BUT why do we need more friendly bacteria when we already have some in our gut??? As we are all aware, what we eat plays an important role in our health. Eating a balanced diet filled with a wide variety of nutritious foods, together with an active lifestyle, are key factors for good health. Unfortunately, most of us over-indulge and due to unhealthy dietary habits a perfect environment in created for potentially harmful bacteria to multiply in our intestines, leading to an imbalance in the gut flora. Stress, ageing, use of antibiotics etc. can also contribute to an increase in the number of potentially harmful bacteria.

Consuming foods containing probiotic bacteria helps to balance the natural bacteria in the gut in favour of the ‘friendly’ ones. These bacteria have been shown to:

• multiply in the gut, pushing out less friendly bacteria.
• help the immune system work even better by increasing immunoglobulins required to fight infection
• improve the general health of children.
• Prevent infections like cough and cold when consumed everyday.
• Helps prevent GIT infections
• Helps prevent diarrhea by increasing the resistance to pathogens
• Has a positive effect in the prevention of cancer by causing carcinogenic deactivation
• Alters toxic binding sites.
• Causes reduction of serum cholesterol

Fermented milk products appear to be a perfect medium for ingestion of probiotics. The historical association of probiotics with fermented milk products stands true even today. Thus consumption of probiotics should be encouraged as they have considerable benefits and have the potential to be an ingredient of food with healthy image and can be potent replacer for antibiotics.