Friendly Bacteria

Understanding the role of friendly bacteria in our overall health is important.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. Probiotics may be used to:

• help with other causes of diarrhea

• help prevent infections in the digestive tract

• help control immune response (inflammation), as in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• probiotics are being studied for benefits in colon cancer, skin infections, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of one or more bacteria in the colon. They are food for the good bacteria.

Synbiotics (or symbiotics)

Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics.

Resources

Reinhard, Tonia. Superfoods: The Healthiest Foods on the Planet. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2010. Print.

"Probiotics." WebMD. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Aug. 2013.