What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microbes that when ingested – and this can be in food or beverage or supplements – that when ingested can promote good health. But also there is actually a natural population of probiotics that live in our bodies, that we actually ingested when we were infants during our initial interactions with our mother.
The word “probiotic” literally means “good for life”. In simplest terms, probiotics are “friendly” bacteria that help keep a healthy balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract, where about 70 percent of the bodys immune system is located. As defined by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, probiotics are “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. The most common probiotic strains consist of lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacilli, Lactococci and Bifidobacteria. These bacterium are found in large quantities in the human intestines. (see Intestinal Flora) However, several strains of Streptococci, Enterococci, Pediococci, Bacilli and some yeasts are also regarded as probiotic strains. NOTE: (Each Trafon OneAmeal™ capsule contains 2-3 billion probiotics.) Thus when probiotics are consumed in sufficient numbers they provide health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition.
