Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A Bacterium a Day Keeps the Doctor Away! – 3

Prebiotics, too

Another way to promote the growth of probiotic bacteria is to take in food they feed on. This is prebiotics. A prebiotic is a molecule that can reach the colon intact to be used by probiotic bacteria. They are mostly non-digestible, naturally occurring sugars that are broken down by certain microbes. Examples of such food are artichokes, chicory root, garlic, banana, onion and asparagus root.

Prebiotics can help maintain the good balance in the digestive system by encouraging the growth of probiotic bacteria.

Just the Beginning

The discovery of probiotics and prebiotics in food is just the beginning. Scientists are continuously researching for more bacteria strains that can help our bodies. One day, we will have a whole range of prebiotic food ingredients. More break-through in research is envisioned. Indeed, bacteria can do wonders for our bodies, don’t you agree?

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