Probiotics are ‘good’ bacteria or in other words benefit the health of the person who consumes it. A good example of a probiotic would be the lactic acid bacteria which converts the sugar into lactic acid. It is due to this lactic acid that the curd gets a sour taste.
Lactic acid has been used in the food processing industry for a long time now to perform many roles in food preservation and storage as well as food manufacturing. Besides, the sourness produced due to these bacteria lowers the Ph of the system thus making it an unsuitable environment for the harmful bacteria to grow.
Probiotics usually act alongside the human system to maintain balance. For example in the case of the gastro intestinal system, the
Probiotics replace the gut flora and help in replenishing the stomach linings especially after a dose of antibiotics, when even the useful bacteria present in the stomach are killed. Probiotics are also believed to strengthen the immune system. This claim however does not have any supporting evidence. It is even believed to offset the effect of excessive intake of alcohol and stress related disorders of the body. Some potential benefits of
probiotics in various fields are discussed below.
• Prevention of colon cancer: Consumers of milk and dairy products have shown a marked decrease in the development of colon cancer. This is because; some species of lactic acid bacteria combine with certain enzymes in the body and prevent the formation of carcinogens which are responsible for cancer formation. Though this experiment has been successfully conducted on laboratory specimens, the human trial is yet to confirm reports.
• Lowering of cholesterol: Certain
probiotics like lactic acid bacteria help in breaking down bile, a digestive juice in the gut and thus prevent it from being re absorbed into the system. Bile being responsible for the formation of cholesterol when prevented from entering the blood stream, cholesterol is not formed.
• Reduction in blood pressure: Consumption of milk leads to a moderate decrease in blood pressure.
• Improving immunity by strengthening the immune system:
Probiotics strengthen the immune system and fight the entry of harmful foreign bodies into the body. Studies have revealed that respiratory tract related infections, dental cavities and diarrhea have been shown to be less prominent in individuals who consume a good amount of milk and other dairy products on a regular basis.
• Treatment of ulcers: Some probiotics prevent the development of peptic ulcers due to prolonged starvation.
• Facilitating mineral absorption:
Probiotics aid in easy absorption of certain minerals found in whole grains, cereals and nuts.
There are no adverse effects of consuming probiotics. In some cases, where the patients suffer from pancreatis, the administration of probiotics directly proved to be fatal. Apart from such remote incidents,
probiotics are generally very good for health. Different strains of probiotics serve different purposes which are exclusive only to that particular strain. Probiotic help in the overall development of health also taking care of the immune system such that the individual leads an illness free healthy life.
