This is the age of medical awareness. And people get crazy at a product if they find it to be of some good to their health. Probiotic products seem to be the latest trend for such people. But what are Probiotics and are they really useful and needed for us. Let’s check out...

Nothing but Bacteria: The word BACTERIA don’t always mean to be negative. From fermentation of milk to digestion of food... we need the help of good bacteria. Probiotics are nothing but the good bacteria that is useful for our health, particularly the digestive system. The benefit of probiotics was known for over a century. But it was only after 1980, people began to look for alternative means to consume Probiotics.

PROBIOTIC products: Though Probiotics are found naturally in products such as curd, soya milk and dark chocolate... products enriched with Probiotics began to enter the market. Products added with Probiotics are believed to be miraculous. From eczema to diarrhea... Probiotic products boast of curing too many ailments. But is that true?

Rubbish: Probiotic foods may certainly be useful in curing diseases like Irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea. But there is very little scientific evidence to prove them to be useful in other cases. Researchers are now advising not go mad over Probiotic products. They feel that Probiotic products are helpful for only those patients with digestive problems. Recently, a team of researchers from Denmark has rubbished down the healing powers of Probiotic products.

Doctor! Doctor!: If you are suffering from some digestive ailment, and if you feel that Probiotics could help... then your Doctor could certainly advice them! Medicines filled with Probiotics are not new for us. For example, Sporlac- a common medicine used to treat diarrhea is nothing but a Probiotic. It is filled with bacteria called lactobacilli that help the digestion process in small intestine. Doctors even administer Probiotic medicines to patients who are taking antibiotics in huge doses. It’s a known fact that antibiotics kills the good bacteria in our intestines and might result into a situation called antibiotic induced diarrhea.

So! It’s good to be health conscious. But such conscious should always be supported by reason and knowledge. It should be out of necessity but not out of fashion should one run after the latest trends in health products. Moreover, it’s always good to have natural substitutes that give us necessary nutrients without harming our health and wealth.

- Nirjara