The World Health Organization (WHO) defines probiotics as live bacteria that can play a beneficial role in the health of consumers by ingesting an appropriate amount. This contains three characteristics of probiotics:
1. Probiotics are "live bacteria"
That is, probiotics can resist various gastrointestinal digestive enzymes and reach the human intestines and stomach alive.

2. Proper dosage
Probiotics must reach a certain dose to be effective.

3. Good for health
Only those that are beneficial to human health can be regarded as probiotics.

The number of flora in our intestines is as high as 100 trillion, of which beneficial bacteria, harmful bacteria and neutral bacteria are present in our body in a certain proportion. When the human intestinal flora becomes unbalanced, it will weaken the body's ability to resist bacteria and viruses and break the balance of the immune system, resulting in a series of diseases. These diseases include: various diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive diseases, diabetes, obesity, allergies, asthma and other immune diseases. When the human body is in a state of intestinal flora imbalance, scientific supplementation of probiotic preparations has been scientifically confirmed in the treatment of diarrhea, prevention of antibiotic-related diarrhea, and auxiliary treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive diseases.

What are the common probiotics?

Lactobacillus acidophilus: The main probiotics in the human small intestine can help digestion and prevent vaginal infections in women.
Bifidobacterium: Treat chronic diarrhea, relieve constipation, and improve human immunity.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus: prevent and treat diarrhea, prevent intestinal infections, and relieve lactose intolerance.
Lactobacillus casei: Promotes digestion, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and relieves allergies.
Lactobacillus paracasei: prevent food allergies and acute diarrhea.
Lactobacillus plantarum: Regulate blood lipids and enhance immunity.

For people who need to supplement probiotics, it is not recommended to use yogurt instead of probiotics. It is recommended to choose non-liquid professional probiotic products under the guidance of a doctor.

Moreover, different probiotics have different effects, so you must “prescribe the right medicine” under the guidance of a doctor. Although there are no reports of serious side effects caused by long-term use of probiotics, it is generally recommended to take no more than 2 weeks. That is, long-term use is not recommended. People with healthy intestines do not need to take probiotics.

How to choose probiotics？
1. The type of probiotics is not selected correctly. There are many kinds of probiotics, and each has different functions, and targeted supplementation can exert corresponding effects. For example: Bifidobacteria can reach the large intestine, promote bowel movements, help defecation, and regulate intestinal disorders; Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus can improve allergies; Streptococcus thermophilus can enter the small intestine to help the human body digest lactose. 70% of probiotics are used in foods. When buying, you can check the ingredient list and choose; if a certain kind of probiotics is lacking, it is more effective to take a special probiotic preparation under the guidance of a doctor.

2. The supplementary quantity is insufficient. To achieve good results by supplementing probiotics, it is necessary to supplement at least 5-10 billion or more each time, and the more active bacteria, the better. This is because probiotics are anaerobic and intolerant to high temperatures, and it is difficult for them to reach the intestines during consumption. Therefore, every time a sufficient amount of probiotics is taken, it is possible to retain a part of it to survive in the intestine as much as possible. When drinking probiotic supplements, make up with warm water around 37°C (the water temperature should not be too high), and then drink as soon as possible to avoid exposure to too much oxygen. The same is true for other foods containing probiotics.

3. Probiotics are very sensitive to stomach acid. The pH value of normal gastric acid is about 1.8, which is not conducive to the survival of probiotics. Hunger and food stimulation before and after meal, gastric acid secretion is more, not suitable for supplementation, should choose the time when the pH value of gastric acid is relatively high to take probiotics. After 30 to 60 minutes after a meal, the feeling of fullness is strong, the secretion of gastric acid is reduced, and most of the food still stays in the stomach, which can neutralize the gastric acid, which is suitable for supplementing probiotics. It can also be supplemented between meals.

4. Improper preservation method. Foods containing probiotics should be sealed and stored at low temperature. Once opened, they should be consumed as soon as possible. Because the air contains water molecules, it can activate probiotics, but oxygen can kill anaerobic probiotics. Choosing dried probiotic granules in individual small packages, or sealed, fresh dairy products, is easier to store on the one hand, and easier to absorb on the other.

Author's Bio: 

Creative Enzymes is a remarkable supplier and manufacturer in the Enzymology field. Equipped with advanced technique platform, Creative Enzymes is able to offer high-quality and professional services for customers. Its products and services are widely used in the academic and pharmaceutical industries.