Probiotics are live cultures of microorganisms that have been created to produce beneficial effect on the host.
Example of cultures are found in the yogurt we consume for all of its beneficial and qualitative properties.
The digestive track and digestion are very important in the maintenance of life, since without it's wellbeing, organisms could not exist. Our nutritional state dictates all of the functions in our bodies, it will enhance or decrease our performance like breeding, athletic endeavors, maintenance, health status and more.
So we can say that the simple act of digestion of our food stuff can actually make us or break us, since many nutrients are either enhanced or reduce the assimilation of important nutritional factors giving us the edge in the health being. Not only that, but our digestive track is full of bacteria that lives in a complete balance, but once this balance is broken, our health status will decline to where our bodies performance is either lowered or ceased all together.
These Probiotics beneficially affect the host upon ingestion by improving the balance of the intestinal microflora (bacterial population in the intestine). The digestive tract is a complex ecosystem, in which a delicate balance needs to be maintained. The microflora is principally comprised of Facultative (capable of adapting to different conditions), anaerobes (don't require oxygen) such as:
- Lactobacillus
- Escherichia coli
- Klebsiella
- Streptococcus
- Staphylococcus
- Bacillus
- and obligate (not able to adapt, require) anaerobes, such as:
- Bifidobacterium
- Clostridium
- Eubacterium
- Fusobacterium
- Bacteroides
The intestinal microflora primarily acts as a barrier of intestinal mucosa thereby preventing the colonization of pathogenic (disease causing) microorganisms and entry of allergens. They are also known to produce certain antibiotic like substances which help control the pathogenic microorganisms. Intestinal microflora also helps mature the immune system, develop normal intestinal morphology (structure) and immunologically balanced inflammatory response. Some of the microflora are also known to contribute to the body requirements of certain vitamins such as:
- Biotin
- Pantothenic acid
- Vitamin B12
- The balance of microbial flora may get disturbed due to use of:
- Antibiotics
- Chemotherapeutics
- Ageing
- Disease
- Stress
- Etc.
Probiotics are popular on a commercial scale in animal feeds with and without yeasts, and fungal cultures producing fiber degrading enzymes. Their use in pelleted feed has been limited because most of the strains of probiotic bacterial cultures were destroyed at pelleting temperatures. Research has shown that probiotic cultures performed significantly better in improving livestock performance when they were supplemented with specific nutrients. Also, no adverse or toxic reactions have so far been reported with the use of probiotics in animal feed.
Our species of Probiotics include the following:
Lactobacillus acidophillus
Lactobacillus lactis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus plantarum
Enterococcus faetium
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus licheniformis
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Pediococcus accidactilis
Sacharomyces cerevisae beneficial yeast
Aspergillus niger beneficial yeast
Aspergillus oryzae beneficial yeast
Each of this species has one or multiple beneficial effect on the host.