One of the hottest trends of last year is gearing up for an even bigger 2008 -- probiotics. Sales of Dannon's Activia yogurt surpassed $100 million in its first year of sales, indicating that consumers are looking for foods that confer medical as well as nutritional benefits.
Probiotic means prolife and humans have been consuming good-for-you bacteria since we first walked the planet. We tend to think of bacteria as bad bugs, but these tiny organisms are also used for good, living in our gut to help us digest food and confer other benefits, including enhanced immunity.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (nccam.nih.gov) notes there is encouraging evidence that probiotics are useful in treating diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infections and eczema in children. A scan of grocery store shelves reveals probiotics appearing in foods from yogurt and yogurtlike drinks to cheese to cereal. There is even a probiotic chocolate bar. With so many products, how do you know if you should invest the time (you need to use these products daily if they are to confer any health benefits) and money (these products are more expensive than nonfortified foods)?
Mary Ellen Sanders, a scientist and business consultant who is past president of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics, said consumers who are healthy might want to incorporate probiotic foods into their diets for possible immune and digestive health benefits.
For consumers who have specific health concerns, Sanders encourages them to call the manufacturer or visit the manufacturers' websites. Ask if the probiotic has been tested for what you are interested in treating and if it is in a dose that has shown to impart the benefit.
There are many different strains of bacteria used in foods -- not all are equal, Sanders said.
Most products contain strains of lactobacilli or bifobacteria, and these are well-tested and safe for consumers. For example, Danimals, a line of probiotic drinks marketed to children, contains lactobacillus, well-studied in children.
Children who have a lot of gastrointestinal illnesses might benefit from a probiotic in yogurt or drinks, Sanders said. She also recommends www.usprobiotics.org for balanced, science-based information.
