Probiotics: Healthy for the Body

The often mentioned Probiotics refer to lactic acid bacteria (mainly in yoghurt), and beneficial bacterium in intestines. Generally speaking, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus acidophilus are safest. The new- born babies are sterile, but get many from their mothers later. Thus, several hours after being born, they may gain more and more enteric bacilli, micrococcus and streptococcus.

The number of bacteria in the digestive system is so large. Someone once calculated that there are over 400 kinds, and billions of bacteria in intestines, as heavy as 2 kilograms. 3- 6 bacteria / g in esophagus, 3-6 bacteria/ g in small intestines, 8-10 bacteria/ g in large intestines or colons.

In fact, the total number of bacteria in your body is larger than that of cells. Various bacteria in the body co- exist and restrict each other. Normally, the system is in a dynamic balance to keep the health of people.

The normal bacteria in intestines directly take part in the organism's defence system. They can kill the germs or stop the reproduction of germs. Thus, they help keep the body healthy.

Probiotics also can be regarded as non-specific immunomodulatory cytokines, activating the main immunity cells by components of cell wall and thus, promoting the ability of anti- diseases.

In terms of health care and nutrition, Probiotics can synthesize many vitamins, such as nicotinic acid, folic acid, pantothenic acid, niacin and vitamin B 1, B 2 and B 6. Beside, they promote the digestion of proteins and absorption of calcium, iron and vitamin D. Thus, they have functions of helping digestion and increasing appetite.
They also can reduce the cholesterol, inhibit cancers and treat intestines diseases. They keep you away from the food poisoning, improve your immunity ability and remove the toxic substances and pollutants out of the body. Luckily, you’ve got billions probiotics in your body.

How to gain more? There are many healthy foods with probiotics in the market but most of them are expensive. People who don’t want to spend much on those foods have other ways to gain more probiotics. Oligosaccharide is the most often mentioned. It can provide nutrition for reproduction of beneficial bacterium in intestines. It is not easy to be decomposed in small intestines, only absorbed when it is fermented into organic acid. It has low calories and thus, very suitable for people who have diabetes or are afraid of getting fat.

Oligosaccharide exists in natural foods such as beans, onion, garlic, burdock, and asparagus. Or you may choose some drinks or milk powder rich in oligosaccharide to help the reproduction of probiotics. However, oligosaccharide can not be eaten too much as it can cause flatulence and diarrhea.