The World Health Organization (WHO) and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines probiotics as “live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” 1. Most of these microorganisms are bacteria which are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut or our digestive system, known as “friendly or good” bacteria 2.

Maintaining a balance between the “good” bacteria and the “bad” bacteria is necessary for ideal health and it can take one trigger to disrupt the balance including medications, diet or diseases 2. A way in which we can achieve balance is through natural probiotics such as Yoghurt. Yoghurt with active cultures may help certain gastrointestinal conditions such as constipation, diarrhoea and IBS 3.

Sources:

1. FAO & WHO. Expert Consultation on Evaluation of Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food Including Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria  [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2013 Dec 14]. Available from: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/fs_management/en/probiotics.pdf

2. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Probiotics [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2013 Dec 14]. Available from: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics

3. WebMD. The benefits of Yoghurt [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2013 Dec 14]. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-yogurt