What is a probiotic?
Under the term probiotic, there is a whole class of microorganisms, mainly of bacterial and fungal origin, which, according to the definition approved in 2001 by the World Health Organization (WHO), when given in sufficient quantity, will be able to benefit the health of the host.
Where can you find a probiotic?
Probiotics can be found both in products "made" by nature, such as fermentation processes, the best example being yogurt, kefir, kimchi, net, miso, pickled cucumbers and cabbage, as well as in man-made products. In the latter case, we are most often dealing with ready-made preparations, usually in the form of capsules, tablets, powders or shots.
Unlike products made by nature, ready-made formulations can contain either a single, dedicated microorganism or a mixture of multiple species of microorganisms.
What properties does a probiotic have?
The main purpose of oral administration of probiotics is to stabilize the normal microbiome, the composition of the microorganisms residing in the digestive tract, and thus reap many potential health benefits.
The possible health-promoting properties of probiotic use are extremely broad, and include supporting the treatment of, among other things, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, reducing food intolerances, including lactose, inflammation of the reproductive tract, urinary tract, skin, upper respiratory tract infections, and much more.
