PROBIOTICS 101

Is your gut as 'on the go' as you are…? 

Tired of feeling sluggish and bloated…?

From processed meals to late-night snacks, our eating habits are taking a serious toll on our health. Many problems but one solution.

" Probiotics might be the missing piece in your health puzzle. Know about your gut health "

Probiotics are microorganism that live in our gastrointestinal tract and render us with various health benefits. They are completely safe microbes when administered in adequate amounts.This is a symbiotic relationship that we have established with microorganisms and this symbiosis has evolved very much with time. These are also called commensal microbes and they thrive on selective foods materials which are not digested by the host. Such selective food ingredients are called dietary prebiotics. These ingredients alter the bacterial population in the GI Tract therefore conferring good health benefits.

Single-celled organisms, like probiotics, offer several health benefits, including: supporting immune function, preventing harmful bacteria, aiding digestion (especially for indigestible foods and lactose), producing vitamins, and helping nutrient absorption. They also treat and prevent infectious diarrhea, reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea, alleviate digestive discomforts, decrease colic and eczema symptoms in infants, and reduce the risk or duration of common infections such as respiratory, gut, and vaginal tract infections.

Remember, A diverse gut microbiome, rich in various genera and species, is essential for these beneficial health outcomes. No single bacterium, even if abundant, can provide all of these benefits.

“Gut instincts”

As the saying goes, 'trust your gut,' there's a strong connection between our gut and various aspects of our health,including cognitive thinking, skin health, and disease resistance. This is evident in the gut-brain axis, gut-skin axis, and gut-immune axis.

A well balanced or homeostatic gut microbiota directly impacts a persons well being. The microbiome has been shown to positively impact cancer patients, potentially reducing cancer spread and influencing the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.

“Gut instincts”

Fantastic microbes and where to find them?

Many fermented foods, such as yogurt, cheese, paneer, kimchi, pickles, kombucha, and even some ice creams, harbour billions of probiotic organisms. Consuming them replenishes your gut microbiome. It is very important to also consume prebiotics, which help rejuvenate the microbes already present in the gut. Steamed foods like idli, puttu, and bread, along with soups like sambar (lentil soup) and vegetable stews, are excellent sources of fiber. They contribute to gut health and can boost your energy levels.

Probiotics 2.0

The advancements in life science, driven by the industrial revolution, have made supplementation readily available. Probiotics are now widely available, with increased shelf life, both from natural sources and as supplements. Many pharmaceutical companies have launched microbiome-based products, recognizing the market's significant potential. Yakult, for example, has been a pioneer in this field.

The advent of AI and ML has enabled many start-ups to introduce the concept of precision nutrition based on a digital twin, tailored to individual microbiome diversity and needs. This provides essential modifications and supplementation required by an individual based on their gut microbiome.

References:

1.   Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, Seifan M, Mohkam M, Masoumi SJ, Berenjian A, Ghasemi Y. Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications. Foods. 2019 Mar 9;8(3):92. doi: 10.3390/foods8030092IF: 4.7 Q1 . PMID: 30857316; PMCID: PMC6463098.

2. Kandalai S, Li H, Zhang N, Peng H, Zheng Q. The human microbiome and cancer: a diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. Cancer Biol Ther. 2023 Dec31;24(1):2240084. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2023.2240084IF: 4.4 Q2 . PMID:37498047IF: 4.4 Q2 ; PMCID: PMC10376920IF: 4.4 Q2 .

3. Gibbons SM, Gurry T, Lampe JW, Chakrabarti A, Dam V, Everard A, Goas A, Gross G, Kleerebezem M, Lane J, Maukonen J, Penna ALB, Pot B, Valdes AM, Walton G, Weiss A, Zanzer YC, Venlet NV, Miani M. Perspective: Leveraging the Gut Microbiota to

4. Predict Personalized Responses to Dietary, Prebiotic, and Probiotic Interventions. Adv Nutr. 2022 Oct 2;13(5):1450-1461. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmac075IF: 8.0 Q1 . PMID: 35776947IF: 8.0 Q1 ; PMCID: PMC9526856IF: 8.0 Q1 .

5. https://isappscience.org/for-scientists/resources/probiotics/

6. LLMs and Tools: Gemini AI, Microsoft Designer, FreePik and Google AI Studio