Role of Probiotics in Health

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are those living microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc..) Administered in an amount that is appropriate and confer a benefit to the individual's health. The species most used are:

* Lactobacillus * Bifidobacterium * * Boulard Saccharomyces yeast species Escherichia coli and bacilli.

The probiotics can join a wide array of products , both in food and medicines and supplements. The most common ways to administer probiotics are dairy products and foods with added probiotics, but also on the market tablets, capsules and sachets.

How do probiotics?

The body's defense system against foreign substances called immune system. More than two thirds of our body's immune system is found in the intestine. In fact, the digestive tract (stomach, small and large intestine) is in contact with the outside through a large area.

The intestinal bacterial flora is made up of millions of bacteria that grow inside the large intestine and fermented foods produce different substances beneficial to health. The bacteria involved in the development of the immune system and regulating the body's response to pathogens (organisms harmful to health).

The intestinal flora is involved in several physiological processes such as digestion and movement of the digestive tract and in the production of some vitamins.

Probiotics act on the gastrointestinal tract stabilizing the composition of the bacterial flora and increases the body's resistance to pathogens, enhancing and activating the defenses. The probiotics produce substances that help fight some potentially pathogenic bacteria produce vitamins and digestive enzymes .

General recommendations for the use of probiotics

The probiotics produce beneficial health effects , but these effects can only be attributed to specific probiotic studied for a specific indication. Therefore, not all probiotics can be given to the same situation, not all probiotics in all situations.

Doses should be used probiotic that we recommend, at lower doses or higher may not be effective or could be harmful.

Severely immunocompromised patients, ie the system of the body's own defense committed, should not take probiotics without the advice of a doctor, as the probiotic in these circumstances could end up like a pathogen.

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