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Probiotics: Common Myths and Shocking Truths
Special to The Truth
With all the attention
paid to health and wellness these days, it’s no wonder that
probiotics are such a hot topic. Probiotics support
digestive health and strong immunity (70 percent of our
immune system is located in the digestive tract); however,
there are a lot of myths surrounding them.
With the global probiotic
market expected to climb to $36.7 billion in 2018, according
to BCC Research, consumers should get the truth about how to
reap probiotic benefits before shelling out their money.
Here are a few myths and
facts to consider from probiotic experts at Ganeden, a
leading manufacturer of probiotic ingredients:
Myth: If a yogurt product
has the Live & Active Cultures seal on the label, it is “probiotic.”
Fact: The seal indicates
that at the time of manufacture, a refrigerated yogurt
contained at least 100 million cultures of Lactobacillus
bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles per gram, and that
a frozen yogurt contained at least 10 million cultures per
gram at the time of manufacture. This sounds pretty
impressive, but depending on storage conditions, cultures
used, and other manufacturing processes, there may be only a
small fraction of the cells left by the time the product
reaches your spoon, due to their naturally short lifespan.
The good news is there are
products that contain far more robust cultures. For example,
GanedenBC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086), a strain of
probiotic bacteria, survives at rates of nearly 100 percent,
and can be found in a variety of food and beverage products.
Be sure to check the ingredient listing or look for its
circular logo on packaging.
Myth: Fermented foods like
kimchi, sauerkraut, miso and natto are good sources of
probiotics.
Fact: It depends. While
many of these foods do use naturally occurring live cultures
to begin fermentation, the pasteurization process will kill
almost all living bacteria, even the good guys!
If the fermented product
is raw, meaning it was never pasteurized, it will contain
bacteria, but it won’t necessarily be probiotic. The
organisms used to produce the fermented food have not always
been studied -- so whether they provide a health benefit to
the consumer is unknown.
For benefits to your
digestive health and immune system, seek out foods and
beverages with added probiotic strains that have research
showing their benefits, like GanedenBC30.
Myth: Added probiotic
strains can’t survive in foods and beverages outside of the
refrigerated dairy case.
Fact: Some strains can,
such as GanedenBC30. Its stability is due to a unique
protective spore that gives the probiotic an ability to
survive harsh manufacturing processes, product shelf life
and, finally, the journey through the digestive system.
These special
characteristics allow it to be included in foods like
oatmeal, muffins, coffee, orange juice and even pizza --
providing probiotic options that fit every lifestyle and
preference.
To learn more about
probiotics and their benefits, including digestive and
immune support, along with enhanced protein utilization, and
for a list of more than 500 probiotic product options, visit
GanedenBC30.com.
When seeking out good
sources of probiotics to include in your diet, remember to
do research beyond the label.
Courtesy StatePoint
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