Probiotics are live, tiny microorganisms that can give health benefits when consumed in sufficient amounts. They are often referred to as “good bacteria” and are believed to promote a healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut.
How Do Humans Take In Probiotics?
There are several ways to introduce probiotic organisms into the body, including:
Food
Many fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi, contain probiotic organisms. Eating these foods regularly can help promote a healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut.
Supplements
Probiotic supplements are available in many different forms, such as capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids. These supplements often contain a combination of different probiotic organisms and can be taken orally.
Probiotic-enriched foods
Some foods, such as certain brands of cereal, juice, and snack bars, are fortified with probiotic organisms. These foods can be a convenient way to introduce probiotics into the diet.
While some probiotics occur naturally in the human gut, others must be ingested intentionally. Some traditional dairy foods contain important probiotics, which give them their tangy taste. There are many different probiotic organisms, but some of the most important ones include the below.
Lactobacillus
This is a genus of bacteria that includes many different species, such as L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, and L. rhamnosus. Lactobacillus is commonly found in the human gut and is often used as a probiotic to promote digestive health. It has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties and may help prevent infections.
Bifidobacterium
This is another genus of bacteria that is commonly found in the human gut. Bifidobacterium species, such as B. bifidum, B. lactis, and B. longum, are often used as probiotics to promote digestive health and may also have immune-boosting properties. Take this probiotic quiz to find out more about how digestive health can be impacted by live microorganisms.
Streptococcus Thermophilus
This is a species of bacteria that is commonly used in the production of yogurt and other fermented dairy products. It has been shown to have probiotic properties and may help improve lactose digestion.
Streptococcus thermophilus is used in the production of yogurt because it helps to ferment the lactose in milk into lactic acid, which gives yogurt its characteristic tangy flavor and thick texture. This practice originated in Central Asia and the Middle East, where people have been fermenting milk to make yogurt for thousands of years. The use of Streptococcus thermophilus in yogurt production was likely discovered through trial and error, as people observed which microorganisms produced the desired texture and flavor in their fermented milk products.
Saccharomyces Boulardii
This is a yeast species that is often used as a probiotic to promote digestive health. It has been shown to be effective in treating diarrhea caused by antibiotics and other infections. This enzyme is not naturally found in the human gut, but is contained in the yogurt drink kefir, which originated in the Middle East. Kefir consumption is increasing in the Western world – largely due to the health benefits that it offers. It also happens to taste extremely good.
Read Also
- Childhood Allergies and Asthma: Signs, Triggers, and When to See a Pediatrician
Allergies and asthma are two of the most common chronic conditions of childhood, and they often travel together. For parents, the challenge is that their signs — coughing, congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing — overlap with ordinary colds, which makes it easy to under-recognize a pattern that deserves attention. Understanding what to watch for helps you… Read more: Childhood Allergies and Asthma: Signs, Triggers, and When to See a Pediatrician - Newborn Care in the First Weeks: A Practical Guide for New ParentsBringing a newborn home is one of life’s great joys — and, for most parents, one of its most disorienting stretches. The first few weeks are a blur of feeding, diapering, and very little sleep, punctuated by a hundred small questions. A little grounding in the basics makes those weeks less overwhelming and helps you… Read more: Newborn Care in the First Weeks: A Practical Guide for New Parents
- Achilles Tendon Pain: From Tendinitis to Rupture and When to Get HelpThe Achilles is the strongest tendon in the body, and it takes an enormous load with every step, jump, and push-off. It’s also one of the most commonly injured — ranging from a nagging tendinitis that builds over weeks to a sudden, dramatic rupture. Understanding where your pain falls on that spectrum, and when it… Read more: Achilles Tendon Pain: From Tendinitis to Rupture and When to Get Help
- Diabetic Foot Care: Protecting Your Feet and Preventing Serious ComplicationsFor most people, a small blister or a minor cut on the foot is a non-event. For someone living with diabetes, that same small problem can become a serious one — quietly, and faster than expected. Diabetic foot care isn’t about anxiety; it’s about a few consistent habits and knowing which warning signs to never… Read more: Diabetic Foot Care: Protecting Your Feet and Preventing Serious Complications
- Weekend Warrior Injuries: When That Ache Is More Than a StrainThere’s a lot to admire about the weekend warrior — the person who spends the week at a desk and the weekend on the trail, the court, or the field. But squeezing a week’s worth of activity into two days, often without much warm-up, is exactly how injuries happen. The trick is knowing which aches… Read more: Weekend Warrior Injuries: When That Ache Is More Than a Strain
- Rotator Cuff Tears: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore and Your Treatment OptionsShoulder pain has a way of sneaking into everything — reaching for a seatbelt, lifting a bag onto a shelf, even rolling over in bed. When that pain lingers and starts to limit what your arm can do, the rotator cuff is often the culprit. Knowing the warning signs of a tear, and when to… Read more: Rotator Cuff Tears: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore and Your Treatment Options
