Probiotics and Digestive Health

Today, we seek more and more foods that can provide added health benefits. Probiotics are increasingly recognised as a convenient and effective way to help ensure a healthy digestive system.

Probiotics

The word "probiotics" comes from the Greek language, meaning "for life". Now the term probiotic is used to describe live cultures which can help improve our health and well-being. Probiotics are live 'good' bacteria which can be consumed in foods and drinks to add to the populations of beneficial micro-organisms which naturally reside in your digestive system. Most common probiotics belong to the genus of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Good and bad bacteria in our digestive system

Traditionally we have been taught that all bacteria are bad. Therefore, it might surprise you to learn that we all have around 400 million species of bacteria living normally in our digestive systems. These bacteria make up the digestive system's microflora that contains both good and bad bacteria. Normally the numbers of good bacteria are predominant.

The good bacteria in the gut microflora are one of the first lines of defence against bad bacteria which can upset the healthy balance of our digestive system and make us sick. Some of the most common harmful bacteria include rotavirus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium.

Overall it is the balance between the levels of good and bad bacteria which can make us feel either healthy or unwell.

Aging, stress, diet and antibiotics can all alter the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Taking a daily dose of "good bacteria", such as a probiotic yoghurt drink, can help to maintain a good balance in the face of life's challenges.

Benefits of probiotics

Probiotics promote the number of good bacteria and reduce the levels of harmful bacteria in the digestive system.

The health effects of probiotics have to be scientifically demonstrated for each probiotic strain. Extensive scientific testing has been undertaken on BBi, the probiotic used in Anchor products (in scientific circles, BBi is known as Bifidobacterium lactis HN019).Studies have proven that BBi can:

• Promote the growth of "good bacteria" which may improve digestive health.
• Protect against bad bacteria which can upset the balance of the digestive system and make us feel ill. Some of the effects of too many harmful bacteria are constipation, diarrhoea, increased gas (wind), decreased immune function and increased risk of infection.

Dairy products, such as yoghurts and milks, have been shown to be ideal vehicles for probiotics.

Click here to see a summary of our scientific research on BBi.