THE SECRET AIDS OF OUR BODY, PROBIOTIC

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What Does Probiotic Mean?

 Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that have positive effects on human health by changing the microbial flora of the intestinal system. They are living organisms in foods (1,2)  Probiotics have a very important place in the health of our intestines, which are considered the second brain of our body. Nearly 100 trillion bacteria and microorganisms live in our intestines. These bacteria are divided into two groups as beneficial and harmful. Probiotics are identified as beneficial bacteria for our body.

What do probiotics do?

• • Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that have positive effects on human health by changing the microbial flora of the intestinal system. (*)

• • They help to increase the absorption of phosphorus, iron, copper and magnesium in the digestive system. (*)

• • They effectively prevent diseases on the mucotic surfaces of the mouth, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and genital system. (*)

• • They are reported to strengthening effects on the immune system and have anticholestremic, antigenotoxic, antimicrobial and antimutagenic  effects. (**)

• • Probiotic bacteria are known to reduce cholesterol proportion, prevent arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, and increase the level of benign (HDL, high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. (4)

What is Prebiotic?

In intestines, substances (such as dietary fibers) that increase reproduction of microorganisms or stimulates their activity, positively affect human or animal health   are called prebiotics. (Gibson and Roberfroid, 1995: 1401). (3)

What do prebiotics do?

• • Prebiotics have beneficial effects on the function of the immune system. Prebiotics improve immune function by reducing the population of pathogens while increasing the population of beneficial gut microbes. (5)
• • Prebiotics are undigested carbohydrates that increase the number and activity of colon bacteria and effect of the probiotics. Prebiotics are used selectively by the beneficial microflora in the colon, prevent the growth of potential pathogenic microorganisms. (6)

• • Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients and  carbohydrates that promote the growth of colon bacteria that positively affect human and animal health. (Naidu ve ark., 1999). In other words, they are selectively fermented compounds that can make beneficial changes in the composition and / or activity of the gastrointestinal microflora (Gibson ve Roberfroid, 2008). It is reported that prebiotics should be taken 8-40 g / day to show the specified physiological effects (Rao, 2001). (7)

Foods with Probiotic Content

Probiotics are often found in fermented foods. Dairy products such as kefir, yogurt, cheese and fermented foods such as pickles, vinegar are natural probiotic foods. Fiber-rich foods are also rich in prebiotics. For example, foods such as onion, garlic, artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, chicory and flax seed can be given.

How to Use Probiotic and Prebiotic Supplements?

You can get the probiotic and prebiotic that the body needs from food, or you can meet your daily needs by using supplements in capsule, pill and tablet forms.

For more comprehensive information on the benefits of probiotics, we recommend you  to take advantage of scientific researches. If you have any health problems or regularly used medications, it is recommended to use herbal products in consultation with healthcare professionals.

References

(1) De Vuyst L, Falony G, Leroy F. 2008. Probiotics in fermented sausages. Meat Sci, 80, 75–78.

(2) Krasaekoopt W, Bhandari B, Deeth H. 2006. Survival of probiotics encapsulated in chitosan-coated alginate beads in yoghurt from UHT- and conventionally trea­ted milk during storage. LWT-Food Sci Technol, 39, 177–183.

(3The Importance of Probiotics in Human Health  Nurhayat ATASOY*

(4) Çakır, İ., Karahan, AG., Çakmakçı, ML. Probiotics and their mechanisms of action. Food Engineering Journal. page 15-19.

(5) Effects of prebiotics on immune system and cytokine expression. Shokryazdan P, Faseleh Jahromi M, Navidshad B, Liang JB

(6) Effects of Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics on Human and Animal Health A. Gülin SEZEN

(7 Effects of Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics on Human and Animal Health A. Gülin SEZEN

(*)Anon. 2005. Probiotics Basics. www.usprobiotics.org

(**)Anon. 2006. Probiotics. www.fda.gov