What are probiotics?
The so-called probiotics, which some people call protobiotin, biological source or original health-care strain, are broadly explained as follows: any application to humans or other animals will help to improve the balance of microorganisms in the intestinal tract of the host. There are many kinds of such probiotics, including: animal Bifidobacterium Bb- 12, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus (commonly known as bacteria A), Bifidobacterium (commonly known as bacteria B), yeast, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, etc., which can regulate the composition of intestinal flora, inhibit harmful bacteria and further enhance the epidemic prevention ability of digestive tract. Whether the original ecology of intestinal bacteria is balanced or not affects human health. Once the probiotics in the intestine increase, the harmful bacteria will decrease. If the formula milk or milk powder of beneficial bacteria can be added in time, the effect of intestinal health care for infants can be achieved.
The role of probiotics
1. Probiotics can relieve the symptoms of lactose intolerance and promote the body's nutrient absorption.
Probiotics contribute to the digestion of nutrients in the intestine. Can decompose lactose into lactic acid and reduce lactose intolerance. Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus can not only produce vitamins B 1, B2, B6, B 12, nicotinic acid, folic acid and other vitamins for the body's needs, but also ensure the supply of vitamins by inhibiting some vitamin decomposing bacteria. In addition, Bifidobacterium can also reduce blood ammonia and improve liver function.
2. Probiotics can regulate intestines, regulate microecological imbalance and prevent diarrhea.
Probiotics enter the human intestine alive, and through its growth and various metabolic effects, it promotes the normalization of intestinal flora, inhibits the production of spoilage substances in the intestine, and maintains the normal function of the intestine. Can be used for treating and preventing viral and bacterial acute enteritis, dysentery and constipation. Probiotics are closely related to chronic gastritis, digestive tract ulcer and other digestive tract diseases. Some probiotics can resist gastric acid, adhere to the surface of gastric wall epithelial cells, inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori through their metabolic activities, and prevent the occurrence of gastric ulcer.
3. Probiotics can produce biological antagonism through metabolites and enhance human immunity.
Probiotics can produce organic acids, free fatty acids, hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocin to inhibit the growth of other harmful bacteria; "Biological hypoxia" greatly reduces aerobic pathogenic bacteria. Probiotics can colonize mucosa, skin and other surfaces or cells, forming a biological barrier to prevent the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms, and play a role in occupying space, competing for nutrition, mutual benefit or antagonism. It can also stimulate the nonspecific immune function of the body, improve the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, enhance the secretion of intestinal immunoglobulin IgA, and improve the barrier function of the intestine.
4. Effect of probiotics on hypertension
Some substances produced by lactic acid bacteria, such as γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA), have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Some probiotics can specifically decompose milk protein (casein) and produce peptides (such as VPP and LPP), which can inhibit the activity of enzymes (angiotensin converting enzyme, ACE) that lead to high blood pressure. Drinking yogurt containing this active polypeptide often has the effect of preventing hypertension.
5. Probiotics can prevent vaginal infection.
Many probiotics can acidify urogenital tract. It can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria by lowering pH value. You can also curb harmful bacteria by competing for space and resources.
6. Probiotics can relieve allergies.
Allergy is an immune disease, which is an imbalance of human immune function. When foreign substances or organisms stimulate the immune system to produce too much immunoglobulin (IgE), people with allergic constitution will release a substance called histamine, which will cause allergic symptoms. Probiotic therapy is one of the effective methods for adjuvant treatment of allergies at home and abroad. Probiotics can be used to regulate immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies in vivo, so as to realize immunotherapy and alleviate allergies.
7. Probiotics can lower serum cholesterol.
It may be related to the regulation and utilization of endogenous metabolites and the acceleration of short-chain fatty acid metabolism. The microecological preparation of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus can convert cholesterol into fecal sterol which is not absorbed by human body after taking it. Thereby lowering the cholesterol level.
8. Probiotics can prevent cancer and inhibit tumor growth.
Lactic acid bacteria can improve the activity of macrophages and prevent the growth of tumors. Probiotics can inhibit the activities of some enzymes in the intestine, such as β-gluconic acid, β-glucuronic acid, urea, enzymes, nitro reductase, azo reductase and so on. These enzymes may be involved in the formation of intestinal carcinogens. Bile salt may dissociate when it encounters harmful bacteria through the intestine, which will produce carcinogens and easily cause intestinal cancer. But probiotics can inhibit harmful bacteria, and even with bile salts, the carcinogenic rate is greatly reduced.
How to supplement probiotics
1. Yogurt containing probiotics
In a healthy state, dairy products containing probiotics can be selected as snacks. Traditional yogurt is fermented by Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, both of which are probiotics. Yogurt with probiotics is based on the former, and Bifidobacterium is artificially added as fermentation strain. Regular drinking can play a health care role and is beneficial to health. But pay attention to buy fresh yogurt stored at low temperature.
2. Formula milk containing probiotics
Some milk powders are added with probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium, which can make the baby's intestines healthier.
3. Beverage containing lactic acid bacteria
The drinks containing lactic acid bacteria sold in supermarkets contain a lot of lactic acid bacteria. But don't drink too much. If you are sick, ask your doctor if you can drink.
4. Fresh cheese contains probiotics
Soft cheese contains more live bacteria, so ingredients or foods containing live bacteria should be refrigerated and kept fresh, and only live bacteria can reproduce in the intestine.
5. Probiotic preparation
Many nutritional products commonly used by babies contain probiotics, but it is not appropriate to supplement probiotics in a healthy state. It is recommended to use under the guidance of a doctor.
Conclusion: Probiotics are a kind of flora that is very beneficial to human body, but it should be noted that it is not necessary to supplement probiotics in a large amount in a healthy state. If you are sick, you should supplement probiotics under the guidance of a doctor. Probiotics have many functions. Common probiotic drinks and formula milk containing probiotics in daily life are good sources for supplementing probiotics.