A bit on Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms thought to be healthy for the host organism. According to the currently adopted definition by FAO/WHO, probiotics are: "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host". -wikipedia

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria are the most common types of microbes used as probiotics; but certain yeasts and bacilli may also be helpful. Probiotics are commonly consumed as part of fermented foods with specially added active live cultures; such as in yogurt, soy yogurt, or as dietary supplements (Yakult, Vitagen).

The Latin preposition pro ("for") and the Greek adjective βιωτικός (biotic), the latter deriving from the noun βίος (bios, "life"). - wikipedia

Probiotics Role in Health

For Centuries, folklore suggested that fermented dairy products containing live active cultures are healthful. Today, controlled scientific investigation supports these traditional views, suggesting that probiotics are a valuable part of a healthy diet.

With the emergence of some new public health risk, it was suggested that effective probiotics can play an important role for mitigation of illness. As an example, the ability of probiotics bacteria to support the immune system could be important to the elderly or other people with compromise immune functions.

Infections are another area with potential for probiotics. Where some infections which was once thought to be self-limiting or readily treatable with anti biotics, are now recognize as more serious health threats.

Viginosis used to be considered as just an annoyance is now known to be associated with low birth weight in babies and the increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

New food borne pathogens have emerged as prevalent and life threatening, including Shiga-like Escherichia coli strains. Multiple antibiotics resistances are a continual threat against the battle of once treatable infections.

In Non industrialized countries, infections such as Rotavirus, claim the life of hundreds of thousands of infants yearly. The prevention of infections before they occur is clearly the better alternative. Thus, probiotics is a safer, cost-effective, natural approach that will add a barrier against microbial infection.  

How Probiotics Work

 To understand how probiotics work, it is important to understand a little about the microbiology and physiology of the human gastrointestinal tract.

Human beings like all animals, play host to many types and high numbers of microbes on our skin, in our mouth and all the way through our gastrointestinal tract. It is estimated that there are more microbes associated with the human body (about 10¹³ or about 100,000,000,000,00 bacterial cells) then there are human cells in it (10¹²). In addition to this very large number of bacteria,  there is also a very large diversity of bacteria. It is estimated that more then 400 different species, or types of bacteria that make the home on us.

With this taken into consideration, it is not surprising that microbes have been found to play an important role in human health. Most of these bacteria are not harmful, and in fact contribute positively to normal human growth and development. But of course, some of these bacteria have a negative influence. It is therefore that the balance of microbes be maintains to favor the beneficial bacteria over the potentially harmful ones.

Microbe Role in the Gastrointestinal Track

The microbes in the GI track have to potential to act in a positive, negative or neutral manner. Due to unfavorable conditions, microbes are not very prevalent in the upper small intestines, But, towards the lower small intestine they begin to attain a higher population. The colon has an even higher number.

With such a large number of microbes in the intestine tract, what could the effects be?

It is now known that microbes in the large intestines actually complete the digestion process on any food components that were not digested in the smaller intestines. These would be lactose for those that are lactose intolerant people and fibers that are resistant to the enzymes they encounter in the smaller intestine. We also find evidence of non-digestive microbial activities. Certain intestinal microbes produce vitamins.

In some studies done it was found that without normal microbial populations, the immune system functions poorly, and resistance to pathogenic bacteria is generally reduce. Other evidence also show that intestinal microbes may act on Pre-carcinogenic or mutagenic (capable of inducing genetic mutation = cancer) compounds. Depending on  specific microbe, some may increase or decrease carcinogenic or mutagenic activities.

Both lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are the normal inhabitants of a healthy intestine. Bifidobacteria are also the dominant flora of breast-fed infants.

There are non pathogenic and their presence is correlated with a healthy intestinal flora. The metabolic end products of their growth are organic acids (lactic and acetic acids) which tend to lower the PH  of the  intestines contents making conditions less desirable for harmful bacteria.  

So now you know a bit more about Probiotics and whats in Dokudami...