10:06 AM PDT on Saturday, April 29, 2006

By ELLEN LIANG / KING5.com

Are you getting enough bacteria in your diet? Food manufacturers are serving up an extra helping these days of the healthy kind, called probiotics.     

"Healthy bacteria are bacteria that normally live in your GI (gastrointestinal) tract, that help you maintain immune function," said Dr. Caroline Apovian of Boston Medical Center.

KING

Dannon's new yogurt is aimed at promoting healthier digestion.

Usually found in yogurt, most commonly added cultures include Lactobacillus acidophilus , L. casei, L. reuteri and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Once they reach the gastrointestinal tract, they help maintain a healthy balance between the 200-plus kinds of bacteria that live there and promote overall immunity.

A World Health Organization group defined probiotics as "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host." They work by creating an acidic environment that inhibits harmful bacteria. When bacteria are cultured with cells in the intestinal lining, they induce an anti-inflammatory reaction. They also shorten digestional transit time and maintain a balance in the GI, preventing constipation and diarrhea. In some cases they have shown to help treat chronic diarrhea.

A new study in the journal Environmental Health finds eating more probiotics may be beneficial. In the study, 181 factory workers in Sweden were given a drink every day. Some contained probiotics, others were given a placebo. Those who took this product had less sick days than those who did not, said nutrition expert Dr. Caroline Apovian, She stressed however that more studies need to be done and on a larger scale to confirm what, if any, benefits there are when it comes to taking in extra healthy bacteria.

In some studies, probiotics have helped reduce cholesterol levels.

A Canadian study using lab rats found probiotics appeared to protect the animals from intestinal problems caused by chronic stress. Researchers say chronic stress plays a role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. The theory is that probiotics fight harmful bacteria for space inside the body, lowering inflammatory responses.  

In a recent study in Taiwan, yogurt with probiotics was found to help eradicate a stomach bug that causes stomach ulcers.

Small amounts of healthy bacteria or probiotics are found naturally in fermented foods like yogurt with live cultures, kefir, miso and sauerkraut. Ideally, foods with live bacteria should be kept at refrigerator temperatures.

Probiotics also come in over-the-counter supplements in capsule, liquid or powder form.

Not all yogurts contain probiotics. While all yogurts require live bateria in their starter cultures, they don't have to be viable in the finished product. That's why consumers should look for the "Live and Active Cultures" seal on the label. L. acidophilus is the most commonly added bacteria. Avoid yogurt that says "heat treated after culturing" on the label. This means that it was pasteurized, a process that destroys live cultures.

Many people who commonly experience gas, bloating or discomfort from dairy foods can digest yogurt more easily. People who are lactose intolerant lack an enzyme that breaks down the main carbohydrate in milk, but yogurt’s starter cultures contain that enzyme.

Yogurt makery Dannon recently began producing Danactive, dairy drink that contains probiotics. The company is researching new probiotic strains, and hopes to find about 10 more in the next few years.

Although yogurt is the most probiotic food on the market because of the established use of bacteria for its culture, other food makers are seeking ways to include probiotic bacteria in products like chocolate, nutrition bars or cereal.

Physicians recommend that people who have compromised immune systems such as the elderly check with their doctors before taking probiotics.

Sources: U.S. Probiotics, Colorado State University, LSU Agricultural Center