In recent years we have heard a lot about the role of probiotics and prebiotics in our health. In an article on the website of the Central Markets and Fisheries Organization, the director of the Hellenic Institute of Nutrition, Asteria Stamataki, refers to probiotics and prebiotics.
Specifically, as far as probiotics are concerned, they are specific live microorganisms contained in food or nutritional supplements. The World Health Organization defines probiotics as live microorganisms that can benefit the human body when taken in appropriate amounts. The most common strains are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria e.g. Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium infantis.
Studies show that probiotics play an important role in the health of the digestive tract, as it appears that:
- They inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
- They help in digestion and absorption of nutrients.
- They contribute to the production of short chain fatty acids.
- They strengthen the immune system.
Probiotics are found in fermented dairy products such as traditional yogurt, kefir, dairy products containing live cultures, e.g. bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In addition, they are present in other foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut (German sauerkraut), miso.
In relation to prebiotics, they are the components of foods that contain indigestible oligosaccharides, such as galactooligosaccharides and inulin. It is a type of fiber that passes through the digestive tract undigested and favors the growth or activity of certain friendly bacteria in the large intestine. In fact, prebiotics are the "meal" of good microorganisms. While all prebiotics are fiber, not all fiber has prebiotic properties. Gut bacteria selectively ferment these fibers, resulting in the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids that are beneficial to our body.
Prebiotics are found in bananas, onions, leeks, raisins, asparagus, artichokes and soybeans.
A probiotic and a prebiotic together are called synbiotics. Throw raisins in your traditional yogurt and reap the benefits.
Source of RES-EMP
