Magic of Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. We usually think of bacteria as something that causes diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.

·    When you lose "good" bacteria in your body (like after you takeantibiotics, for example), probiotics can help replace them.

·         They can lower the amount of "bad" bacteria in your system that can cause infections or other problems.

·         They can help balance your "good" and "bad" bacteria to keep your body working like it should.

Many types of bacteria are classified as probiotics. They all have different benefits, but most come from two groups. Ask your doctor about which might best benefit you.

Lactobacillus. This may be the most common probiotic. It’s the one you’ll find in yogurt and other fermented foods. Different strains can help with diarrhea and may help with people who can’t digest lactose, the sugar in milk.

Bifidobacterium. You can also find it in some dairy products. It may help ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Yogurt

Yogurt is one of the most familiar sources of probiotics -- "good" bacteria that keep a healthy balance in your gut. Studies suggest that probiotics can help ease lactose intolerance. They also may help tame gas, diarrhea, and other digestive problems. You can pay extra for special digestive yogurt brands, but any with "live and active cultures" listed may help.

 

Sauerkraut Boosts Digestion

Choose the unpasteurized kind, because pasteurization (used to treat most supermarket sauerkraut) kills active, good bacteria. This sour, salty food -- and the similar but spicy Korean dish, kimchi -- is also loaded with immune-boosting vitamins that may help ward off infection.

Miso Soup

A popular breakfast food in Japan, this fermented soybean paste can get your digestive system moving. Probiotic-filled miso reportedly has more than 160 bacteria strains. It’s often used to make a salty soup that's low in calories and high in B vitamins and protective antioxidants.

Soft Cheeses

While they might be good for your digestion, not all probiotics can survive the journey through your stomach and intestines. But research finds that certain strains in some fermented soft cheeses, like Gouda, are hardy enough to make it. Cheese also may act as a carrier for probiotics, which may boost the immune system.

Kefir: Probiotic-Filled Drink

According to legend, kefir dates back to the shepherds of Eurasia's Caucasus Mountains. They discovered the milk they carried tended to ferment into a bubbly beverage. Thick, creamy, and tangy like yogurt, kefir has its own strains of probiotic bacteria, plus a few helpful yeast varieties.

Sourdough Bread

The next time you make a sandwich, pay attention to what's holding your cold cuts and cheese. San Francisco's famous sourdough bread packs a probiotic that may help digestion.

Milk With Probiotics

One of the easiest ways to get probiotics into your diet is by adding acidophilus milk. It's milk that's been fermented with bacteria. Sometimes it's labeled sweet acidophilus milk. Buttermilk -- usually milk that's cultured with lactic acid bacteria -- is also rich in probiotics.

 

 

Sour Pickles

When looking to pickles for probiotics, choose naturally fermented kinds, where vinegar wasn't used in the pickling process. A sea salt and water solution feeds the growth of good bacteria and may give sour pickles some digestive benefits.

Try Tempeh

Made from a base of fermented soybeans, this Indonesian patty makes a type of natural antibiotic that fights certain bacteria. Tempeh is also high in protein. People often describe its flavor as smoky, nutty, and similar to a mushroom. You can marinate tempeh and use it in meals in place of meat.

Probiotic Supplements

Aside from being found in foods, probiotics come in supplements in capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid forms. Although they don't provide the extra nutrition that foods can offer, they can be convenient. If you're interested, talk to your doctor. If you're ill or have immune system problems, you may want to be cautious about taking probiotics.

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics

While probiotic-foods have live bacteria, prebiotic foods feed the good bacteria already living in your gut. You can find prebiotics in items such as asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, oatmeal, red wine, honey, maple syrup, and legumes. Try prebiotic foods on their own or with probiotic foods to perhaps give the probiotics a boost.

The Gut or the Digestive system works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is home to 100 trillion bacteria also called the Gut Flora. The Gut performs very important functions which are necessary for the growth and development of the human body. 

1. The Gut digests the food that we consume and absorbs the nutrients to provide the energy that is needed by the body to perform the various activities.
2. More than 70% of the immune cells are present in Gut. It plays an important role in protecting us from infections by fighting harmful bacteria, viruses and cancer cells.
3. The Gut helps us to get rid of the waste material from our body by forming stools.

What is Gut Flora

Our gut is home to 100 trillion microorganisms that are ten times more than the cells in the entire human body. The digestive system contains a large number of microorganisms which are estimated to weigh over a kilogram. They are collectively called the Gut Flora.The gut flora is acquired rapidly during and shortly after birth and is known to play an important role in determining the gut health of an individual.It is almost impossible to live without them. 

The gut flora helps improve intestinal function by stimulating the digestive process and since 70% of the immune cells reside in the gut, it also helps to build immunity. They also aid in the absorption of nutrients and some bacteria also produce vitamin B and K. The gut flora includes both the beneficial organisms and the harmful ones that cause disease. 

There is no consensus of what constitutes an "ideal" intestinal microbiota but a healthy microbiota is thought to be one that contains high numbers of Lactobacilli and Bifido bacteria such that their activities predominate over other potentially harmful microbes.

The History of Yakult

In 1930 Dr. Minoru Shirota, a Japanese scientist, was the first in the world to isolate and culture a probiotic strain which reached the intestines alive in large numbers and imparted health benefits to the host. He used this strain to make Yakult, a fermented milk drink, so as to reach the benefits of the strain to people at large. 

Yakult was first launched in Japan in 1935, and today with over 80 years of history, Yakult is a global leader in the probiotic drinks market with the wide range of probiotic products using Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) and Bifidobacterium breve. 

The flagship product Yakult contains over 6.5 billion beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus caseistrain Shirota) which have proven health benefits. It helps improve digestion and helps build Immunity. It has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective. 

Prevention is better than Cure - Emphasis should be placed on Prevention rather than Cure.

Healthy Intestine leads to a long life - Human beings absorb nutrients through their intestine. Making the intestine strong leads a healthy and long life. 

A price that anyone can afford - The goal of providing as many people as possible with easy access to Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota which protects the intestine.

Yakult is a delicious probiotic drink that helps improve digestion and helps build Immunity. Yakult contains 6.5 billion beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota) that reach our intestines alive and restore the balance of the beneficial or friendly bacteria in the gut. Daily consumption of Yakult improves intestinal health and builds immunity. 
Over 30 million people in more than 30 countries including India trust Yakult and drink it every day! 

Ingredients

Skimmed Milk Powder, Sugar, Glucose, Natural and Natural Identical Flavour, Water and 6.5 billion Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota.

Nutritional Information (per 65ml)

Energy

: 50kcal

Protein

: 0.8 g

Carbohydrates

: 12 g

Fat

: < 0.1 g

The strain of bacteria in Yakult, Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota was discovered by Dr. Minoru Shirota, a Japanese scientist in 1930. It has more than 80 years of research to back its safety and efficacy. It is scientifically proven to 

o    Improve bowel movement and aid digestion

o    Maintain balance of good and bad bacteria

o    Reduce toxins in our body

o    Help build the immune system (reduce risk of infections)