What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live healthy microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when consumed in adequate quantities. These friendly microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract play an essential role in supporting and maintaining strong immune and digestive systems.
70% of the immune defense is located in the gut and a balanced microbiota (containing good bacteria) is important for a well-functioning immune system. A number of factors can compromise this balance, these include the usage of antibiotics, unhealthy diets, stress, travel, etc. An effective solution is to take probiotic supplements to restore microbial balance. A well-balanced microbiota makes the gut epithelial lining stronger and tighter preventing unwanted substances from entering the bloodstream.
Probiotics are the first line of defence against invading pathogens, they aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, produce vitamins, and are even known to affect our brain by alleviating stress, depression, and anxiety. Generally regarded as safe, probiotics offer natural solutions in the prevention and treatment of various health conditions and diseases and are generally available as fermented foods, ingredients in food, or as food supplements and drugs.
Broadly, microorganisms can be categorized into vegetative cells and spore-forming cells
Spore forming cells include Saccharomyces, Clostridium, and Bacillus species. Of all probiotic species, the Bacillus species can withstand harsh manufacturing processes.
A good probiotic ingredient should posses the 5 S’s
