Each of us has thousands of bacteria in our bodies – both “good” and “bad.” Stress, changes in diet, age, travel, and other factors can upset the balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria.
Probiotics are live organisms that prevent harmful bacteria from getting the upper hand by competing with them for nutrients and possibly helping inhibit their growth. Probiotics may be helpful for restoring or maintaining the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract.
Each of us has thousands of bacteria in our bodies—in fact, we have 10 times more bacteria than cells! We have both “good” and “bad” bacteria which exist in our bodies. The “good” microorganisms resist the proliferation of the “bad bacteria” to help achieve and maintain balance in your gut. They prevent the harmful bacteria from getting the upper hand by competing with them for nutrients and possibly producing substances that inhibit the growth of their opponents.
Probiotics, which are live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host, have been studied for both humans and animals. Controlled human and mechanistic studies show that probiotics may be helpful in a number of health benefit areas, including the areas of gastrointestinal health, and immune health and function.
Probiotics may be helpful for restoring or maintaining the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract. Stress, changes in your diet, age, and travel are just a few factors that can affect the balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria in our digestive tract. Probiotics may also help support the immune system, as ~70% of the immune system is located within the lower digestive tract.*
Relevant Health Areas
Suggested Foods Probiotics are naturally found in certain foods, such as yogurt and fermented and unfermented foods and beverages, including milk (acidophilus milk), sauerkraut, miso, and tempeh (soybean cake).
