How Do Probiotics Work?
Literally speaking, “probiotic” is a word meaning “for life.” In scientific terms, probiotic organisms are live, single-celled, microscopic bacteria. These probiotic bacteria are consumed and/or used in the human body for their health benefits. One of the most widely known probiotic bacterial cultures is called Lactobacillus acidophilus, or L. acidophilus. Probiotic acidophilus is commonly found in the human digestive tract, vagina, and many dairy products (especially yogurt). In the past decade, there has been extensive research about probiotic organisms and their potential health benefits, leading many health-conscious consumers to ask, “How do probiotics work?” Probiotic cultures in fermented dairy products have been touted for their health benefits for centuries, but scientific evidence of probiotic benefits has emerged only in the last 10 to 20 years. Probiotic organisms do most of their good work in the human gastrointestinal tract. All human beings have an enormous number of bac
