Nurture The Future Prenatal and Family Nutrition
Connect with us here
  • Home
  • Services
    • Nutrition
    • The Whole 9 Months
    • Babywearing Education
    • Groups
    • Upcoming Events
    • Registration
    • In Case You Missed It
  • Contact
  • Articles
    • Pregnancy
    • Infants
    • Children
    • Families
    • Nutrition
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Treats
  • About
  • What People Are Saying
  • Blog

Food Sources of Probiotics

1/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture























I am sure most have you have been subjected to marketing about yogurt containing probiotics. Over the years I have taught lots of kids about nutrition and I always find it interesting how marketing affects them. Probiotics is a great example. Many kids have heard of probiotics. When I ask them where they have heard about it most tell me from the TV commercials, a few say from their parents. Some tell me that it’s something you take with antibiotics. But when I ask them if anyone actually knows what probiotics are, a silence usually falls over the group. Sometimes people know that it is something that is good for you – for digestion or something. “Isn’t it in yogurt?” is another common answer that I get. Marketing is a strong force. Most people think they are good, but are unsure what probiotics really are. 

So, what are they? The definition for probiotics is “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host” (1). What that means is that probiotics are good bacteria that help keep a healthy balance of good to bad bacteria in our colons. The most common strains, found in both food and supplements, include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium (1). Where as Enterococcus species, Bacillus species, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces boulardii are more often found in supplements (1).

Probiotics are measured in CFU – Colony Forming Units. This is the actual number of live microorganisms in the food or supplement. (1).

It is important to choose the correct genus, species and strain in order to get the benefits you are looking for. Different strains of the same species can have different effects in the body. For example, if you are looking for a probiotic for reason X, looking for one that contains Lactobacillus is not specific enough to know if it will help with X(1). To make things more complicated, many companies come up with names for the probiotics they are using for “consumer ease” however, this name does not tell you what the scientific name of the microorganism is (1).

Why probiotics are good?

·      Help with the symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

·      Help with the symptoms of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)

·      Help with decreasing diarrhea if you have to take antibiotics

·      Help with lactose intolerance for some people by helping with lactose digestion (some research is showing)(1)(2)

Where can you find them?

·      Yogurt- keep in mind with yogurt that sugar in yogurt lessens the amount of bacteria. If possible choose plain 
       yogurt. Read about low fat and low sugar products- coming soon.

·      Fermented foods: miso, tempeh, natto, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled vegetables, etc.

·      Fermented drinks: kombucha tea, fermented ginger beer, water kefir, etc

·      Kefir

·      You now see probiotics popping up in all sorts of products such as: juice, cereal, gum, icecream, cheese, candy, 
       chocolate. Just because these foods claim to have probiotics, does not necessarily make them a healthy food. (1)

·      For babies and kids you see probiotics popping up in formula, follow-up milks, and breast milk substitutes (1)

·      Probiotic Supplements

Who should be taking them?

It is safe for most people to take probiotics, including children and pregnant women. However, those with weakened or immature immune systems should use caution (3). If you are considering giving probiotics to your baby I would recommend talking to your health care provider or book a visit with me, a Registered Dietitian. I recommend taking probiotics on an ongoing basis and of course include food sources in your diet as much as possible. Probiotics need to be taken and eaten regularly to gain the benefits. If you have a milk allergy (versus intolerance) you will want to be cautious taking probiotics as they are typically grown on a culture that contain the milk protein. You can, however find sources that are dairy free.

I always tell my clients that I am “pro” probiotics. Most people are not getting the probiotics that we used to. Our food is so ‘clean’ that we just don’t get exposed to the bacteria like we did years ago.

Do you need help choosing the right probiotic for you? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future’s Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com

References:
1 PEN current issue- probiotics in the marketplace feb 2011
2 http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Probiotics/prebiotics/The-Pros-of-Probiotics.aspx#.VA-Shy5dUWz
3 http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/100111p46.shtml



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Jill Wallace, RD, CH

    Mom, Registered Dietitian and Chartered Herbalist writing about nutrition. Have a topic you want to read about? I would love to hear your idea. Email nf.nutrition@gmail.com 

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    Children
    Families
    Infants
    Nutrition
    Pregnancy
    Recipes

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.