Probiotics As Functional Food For Health

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Probiotics As Functional Food For Health

Gita Sapkota

 

 

 

Probiotics are currently defined as live microorganisms which when

consumed in sufficient quantity confer health benefits to the host.

Probiotics live microorganisms such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobac-

terium bacterial species, as well as yeast have beneficial effects

upon ingestion by restoring the balance of the host's intestinal

microflora. It is important to maintain a healthy community of

bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

 

The word " probiotics " literally means " for life " and refers to living

microorganisms that, when consumed in sufficient numbers, exert

health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

 

The microfloral colony on the digestive tract is ordinarily composed

of both benevolent and potentially harmful bacteria. When the

delicate balance between these bacteria becomes adversely affected,

the body becomes exposed to excessive toxin levels, which then

manifests as various type of diseases. Probiotic bacteria are used to

alter this intestinal microfloral balance in such a way that, by

being more abundant than

the harmful bacteria, they inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria,

promote good digestion, boost immunity and increase resistance to

infection.

 

At present, probiotics are added to yogurts, various fermented milk

products and dietary supplements during production. The majority

probiotics currently marketed as nutritional supplements and used to

supplement functional foods are strains of Bifidobacterium and

Lactobacillus. Most of the probiotics available at present are

bacteria whereas Saccharomyces boulardii is one example of probiotics

yeast. Organism should meet the following basic requirements for

consideration as a probiotic food product: exhibit biosafety

characteristic, have the ability to survive in the human stomach,

beneficial for host health and easy to process and cost effective

(stability/long shelf life, commercial scale production). Dr.Tika

Karki, a food scientist, says it should contain 10 million live

micrporganism per gram for probiotic yogurts .

 

Probiotics may exhibit antimicrobial, immunomodulatory,

anticarcinogenic, antidiarrheal, antiallergenic and antioxidant

activities. Considerable ongoing research is currently being

undertaken focusing on the development of target specific probiotics

containing well characterized bacteria that are entering the

marketplace in the form of nutritional supplements and functional

foods, such as yoghurt and other functional food products. Probiotic

bacteria also produce substances called bacteriocins, which act as

natural antibiotics that kill undesirable microorganism. Relief of

lactose maldigestion symptoms and decreasing the duration of

rotavirus diarrhea are health benefits conferred by many probiotics

strains.

 

The potential benefits of probiotics foodstuffs.

 

Acidification of the colon: Benevolent microflora produces lactic and

acetic acids, which are essential in combating the growth of

potentially harmful bacteria such as salmonella, shigella and

coliform species on the gastro intestinal tract.

 

Vitamin production: the intestinal flora enhances the production of

several vitamins that are necessary for human health, including folic

acid, B2, biotin, pantothenic acid B6, B12 and vitamin K.

 

Elimination of intestinal gas and bloating: the benevolent bacteria

prevent harmful bacteria from becoming dominant in the colon where

they of the produce foul-smelling waste products and create painful

intestinal gas and bloating. Excess gas resulting in chronic

flatulence is often a direct result of having too few benevolent

floras on the colon, which in turn allows harmful bacteria and yeast

to proliferate and multiply very quickly.

 

Normalizes bowel movements: constipation is often alleviated by

ingesting large quantities of benevolent bacteria because they

promote the processing of bodily waste considerably; decreasing the

amount of time it takes for waste products to travel through the

digestive system.

 

Improves immune system functioning: the benevolent bacteria act to

provide powerful nature " internal vaccination " by stimulating the gut

associated lymphoid tissue, which in turn combats harmful substances

and organism in the body that might otherwise cause infections and

disease.

 

Deactivation of carcinogenic compounds: numerous carcinogenic

compounds derived from ingested foods and byproducts of other

organisms are scavenged by the activities of benevolent bacteria.

 

Regulation of cholesterol levels: through a complex process, the

benevolent flora helps to reduce the accumulation of cholesterol on

the bloodstream and promote its excretion through the bowels.

 

Additional benefits associates with probiotic foodstuffs: the

benevolent microflora of probiotics foods work in conjunction with

other species of beneficial intestinal microorganisms " native to the

human body " to produce additional benefits such as

 

creating a protective barrier against invasion by harmful

microorganism by colonizing and coating the intestinal mucosa, Aiding

in the production of natural beneficial antibiotic substances such as

acidophillin, bifidin, hydrogen peroxide, Breaking down

carbohydrates, facts and protein while rendering their toxic

byproducts inert.

 

Probiotics are important for recolonizing the intestine during after

and after antibiotic use. Probiotics also promote healthy digestion.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a source of lactase, the enzyme needed

to digest milk sugar, which is not present in lactose-intolerant

people. Since lactic acid bacteria produce acids, peroxides and

bacteriocins, it is expected that they could influence the incidence

of cancer.

 

Probiotics, along with a very large and diverse range of other

bacteria, colonize the human body. These bacteria play a significant

role in human physiology.

 

Probiotic products have entered the market in the form of nutritional

supplements and functional food. The probiotic market, especially

that of dairy products such as yogurts and other fermented dairy

products, has experienced rapid growth in Japan, Europe and the USA.

Fermented milk drinks have been available in Japan for several

decades and the market for probiotics products is now mature.

Probiotic beverage and foodstuffs have begun to diversity into juices

on the European market. In addition, while probiotics products may

already have become a vital component in the diets of consumers' in

the developed world, they have yet to enter the markets of the

developing world.

 

In general probiotics bacteria are sold in two different formats:

food and dietary supplements. Food products containing probiotic

bacteria are almost exclusively dairy products, capitalizing on the

tradition association of lactic acid bacteria with fermented milk.

The supplements market contains many different product formats and

contents, including capsules, liquids, tablets and even food-like

formats. Importantly, dietary supplements are designed to supplement

the diet and not replace any of the components of a diet.

 

In developed countries, market competition among producers of dairy

products supplemented with probiotics is intense. Functional foods,

dietary fiber, prebiotic and probiotics are the principle functional

ingredients in many of these dairy food products. Common dairy

probiotic products in Japan expected that prebiotic and probiotics

will continue to be the major functional food ingredients for the

foreseeable future in the world.

 

The development of successful probiotic products will be contingent

on both the proofs of a probiotic effect and the development of foods

that harbor high numbers of viable organism at the time of

consumption. At the start of the 21th century, globle probiotic

research efforts are focusing on the development of target- specific

probiotic products containing well characteristics. Reports are

already demonstrated number of beneficial effects associated with the

consumption of probiotics and sales are increasing worldwide as

consumers become more aware of their benefits.

 

In Japan consumer demands for probiotics is high, which is well

suited to the traditional Japanese concept of gaining good health

through the consumption of natural products, American and European

consumers also perceive the health benefits of probiotics and have

increased their consumption of fermented dairy products considerably

in recent years.

 

Owing to the increased

awareness among consumers regarding health, probiotic products are

likely to enjoy very good prospects in both developed and developing

nations.

 

The Japanese have truly been leaders in the whole health and wellness

movements, of which probiotics are an important segments. After all,

Japnese was the country to give birth to the daily dose probiotics

drink yakult.

 

(This article was prepared after interacting with food scientists)

 

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