Probiotic products

[Amy]

It seems the newest trend to hit the supermarket shelves are foods with probiotics.
The National Center for Alternative and Complimentary Medicine defines probiotics: Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods. They can be used as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)A group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine..

Have you tried any products with these added probiotics such as Activia or DanActive yogurts or cheeses? What about the new granola bars or Crystal Light with added LiveActive? What is your opinion of them? Would you recommend them to others?

[Lisa Newton]

I haven't tried any of these products. I usually practice very simple foods, and don't get into the hype of new products too often. However, I'm glad you started this discussion, as I'd be very interested in what others have discovered.

[David]

I don't know too much about this, are there any pros and cons about eating foods and/or drinks with Probiotics?

[Amy]

Well these products are marketed as helping regulate bowel movements and improve GI function. A lot of these products contain bifidus regularis, the bacteria that is found in our colons. It is said to help decrease transit time of food in the colon, helping prevent constipation.

I have tried several of these products out of curiosity. I ate Activia yogurt daily for one week. Taste-wise it was good, but it caused stomach upset for the first few days. I also drink Crystal Light with LivActive added.

As far as I've read, these products are not harmful, but I do not think they are necessary. With proper diet and balanced eating, we should be able to consume the recommended 25-35 grams of fiber by selecting whole grains and at least 5 servings fruits and vegetables. Consuming these products without improving one's diet will not cure constipation, nor is it an excuse to omit high fiber foods.

[Starbuck]

Last I heard there was a class action suit againt Danone regarding probiotics as there is no proof of the claims they make. Just one more thing to be confused about in the grocery aisle.

[Susanna]

If you have ever had yogurt, you have probiotics. However, the food industries are creating/discovering new strains or combining them in new ways and patenting them.

This is a huge deal. My husband works for a very large engineering firm that builds food production plants. This is all the rage right now. They need equipment that will handle these probiotics safely and keep the strains alive. I have seen the first issues of probiotic chocolates on the shelves. Supposedly, chocolate is great carrier for them as they will not die while sitting on the shelves.

Many of what you see in the way of nuts and granola bars are "prebiotic" or "supports probiotics". These are the foods that the probiotic bacteria that are already in your stomach and intestines like to eat so they can be fruitful and multiply.

[Diana Young, RD, LD/N, CDE]

article on Chewable probiotics

[Amy]

Susanna,

Thanks for that info...very interesting!

As for the chewable probiotics--are we getting too lazy to eat a container of yogurt that we now need pills? This makes me smile because it reminds me of a comedian, Ellen DeGeneres, that I saw who was talking about how people in general are getting so dependent on technology and how we're just becoming lazy in general. My favorite example of hers was Listerine strips: we're too overworked and too tired for old fashioned mints that we want something to just dissolve on our tongues. As she put it, "What, are we too lazy to suck?" I love that! :)

[Lisa Newton]

I don't think it's so much a case of laziness, but more a case of we are slowly turning into an "Instant" society. Hence, drive-thru windows, fast food, faster internet connections, instant downloads, pop in the microwave meals, etc.

We don't stop to smell the roses anymore.................:(

[Diana Young, RD, LD/N, CDE]

I agree with both of you and companies are making money from our laziness and our "instant" mentality. Think of all the quick weight loss "scams". Too bad it doesn't work for weight loss--hence, the obesity problem.

[cathy]

My kids' pediatrician is very pro-probiotics (acidophiles in particular). I don't give them probiotics on a regular basis, but I do when they've been on antibiotics or seem to have some gut problems. It does help them to get over diarrhea faster. Our pediatrician has seen studies that indicate that taking probiotics can lessen the duration and maybe the severity of stomach viruses. And I have seen studies recently that suggest that probiotics can have positive benefits to more than just your gut - kind of keep your gut happy, and your whole body is happy thing.

If you have a very healthy diet and lifestyle, taking extra probiotics might be overkill (unless you get a stomach bug). But, if you have gut problems, are on antibiotics, or have a virus, they probably won't hurt, and they just might be beneficial.

[Lynn]

I have eaten "Activia", but not on a regular bases. The one product which I take daily is a supplement called "Florify" I have had very good results with it. I have had digestive problems with constipation, abdominal blotting and discomfort for years. I do eat the recommended amount of daily fiber, but it was not enough for me. Adding the additional probiotics to my diet has helped me. I feel that my body did not produce enough "good bacteria" on its own. Supplementing for me has been a good thing.

[Chris Kolba's Fit to Live]

The next hot topic. So now all the food co. will take advantage of this to profit from it. Just like you see all the companies now advertising whole grains in their products. I think the trouble is in trying to find out the quality and quantity of the specified ingredient in the product. The labeling laws can be quite lax and the manufacturers take advantage of this. I tend to think that finding a reputable company and take the probiotic in supplement form. Therefore you know how much you are actually getting and know the quality is good. I think the general public gets confused from the spin many manufacturers put on their products to make them seem to be healthy.
Chris