Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, so the idea of tossing down a few billion a day for your health might seem — literally and figuratively — hard to swallow. But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria. Northern Europeans consume a lot of these beneficial microorganisms, called probiotics.

"Probiotics" are microorganisms that are essential for the proper functioning of the digestive tract.* Commonly referred to as the "friendly," "beneficial," or "good" bacteria, probiotics are known for their ability to support a favorable environment for nutrient absorption, encourage intestinal balance and promote the health of the intestines.

One way of maintaining a balance between the beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut is to consume a source of beneficial bacteria in the diet. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can be introduced into the digestive system through food.

Probiotics are available in foods and dietary supplements (for example, capsules, tablets, and powders) and in some other forms as well. Examples of foods containing probiotics are yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, and some juices and soy beverages. In probiotic foods and supplements, the bacteria may have been present originally or added during preparation.
There is growing public and scientific interest in probiotics. Researchers are studying whether probiotics taken as foods or supplements can help treat or prevent illness, such as:
Vaginal yeast infections
Diarrhea following treatment with certain antibiotics

Foods that contain probiotics

The following foods can contain probiotics if they are manufactured in such a way that the live lactic acid bacteria are not destroyed during processing:
Eating and drinking yoghurt, cottage cheese, milk drinks, powdered milk products, breakfast cereals, infant foods and infant formulas.


Sources of Probiotics

Probiotics can be found in capsule, liquid, powder, or tablet form. Acidophilus drinks can be found in health food stores and some grocery stores and Asian grocers.

Probiotics can also be found in cultured dairy products such as yogurt or kefir, however, the number of live organisms varies greatly from product to product due to differences in processing methods. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut also contain probiotics.

Health benefits of probiotics

Probiotics can increase the bioavailability of protein and fats in the diet by breaking down these nutrients in the digestive tract - this is particularly important for infants, toddlers and patients who need building up during and after illness.

Probiotics can help reduce intestinal inflammation and hypersensitivity reactions in infants with food allergies and those suffering from atopic eczema.
Generally probiotics help to maintain a healthy digestive system by maintaining a balance between the harmful and beneficial bacteria in the gut. They are of benefit especially when taken during and after antibiotic treatment or when travelling abroad where the body encounters different types of bacteria than it is used to.

Probiotic therapy may also help people with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical trial results are mixed, but several small studies suggest that certain probiotics may help maintain remission of ulcerative colitis and prevent relapse of Crohn’s disease and the recurrence of pouchitis (a complication of surgery to treat ulcerative colitis).