Probiotics are ‘live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host’. In other words, these friendly bacteria work hard to improve your health. They have strength in numbers – you need to consume a large enough dose of probiotics in order to see their benefits.
Evidence shows probiotics positively affect digestive health, but their effects can go far beyond the gut. Scientists are studying the role of probiotics in treating many different conditions, from diabetes to infectious diarrhea, and their possible role in prevention of disease.
References:
Hevia A, Delgado S, Sánchez B, Margolles A. Molecular Players Involved in the Interaction Between Beneficial Bacteria and the Immune System. Front Microbiol. 2015; 6: 1285. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01285
Skokovic-Sunjic D. Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in the United States: 2016 Edition. http://usprobioticguide.com/ Accessed May 30, 2016.
Sassone-Corsi M, Raffatellu M. No Vacancy: How beneficial microbes cooperate with immunity to provide colonization resistance to pathogens. J Immunol. 2015; 194(9): 4081–4087. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403169
Skokovic-Sunjic D. Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in the United States: 2016 Edition. http://usprobioticguide.com/ Accessed May 30, 2016.
Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food including Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria: Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Evaluation of Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food Including Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria. http://4cau4jsaler1zglkq3wnmje1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FAO-WHO-2001-Probiotics-Report.pdf Published 2001. Accessed May 30, 2016.
Hill C, Guarner F, Reid G, et al. Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2014; 11: 506–514. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
