What are probiotics and why are they important?

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of ‘probiotics’ – a word from Latin and Greek origins, meaning ‘for life’. You may have seen probiotics mentioned in yogurt ads or spotted them listed in skincare products. But what is a probiotic? And how can probiotics benefit your health? Let’s jump into a crash course!

Microorganisms in nature have been in the world longer than humans. But did you know that the word “probiotics” was first used only since mid-20th century?  Probiotics are living microorganisms (the ‘micro’ comes from their tiny size). It’s understandable that we assume all microorganisms are bad, but that’s not true! In fact, 99.9% of bacteria are harmless to humans. In fact, some actually provide health benefits, and these ‘good bacteria’ are what we call probiotics.

If you want the official probiotics definition, the World Health Organization says, “Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” And these friendly little helpers were part of our food long before we knew they existed.

Probiotic literally means “for life”. Ever since the word “probiotic” was first used in mid-20th century, generations of scientists have been studying what probiotics do and how they work.

The definition of probiotics has evolved in the past century. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognises probiotics as any live microorganism which, when administered in adequate amounts, bestows a health benefit on the host. In simpler terms, they are good bacteria. These little friendly helpers can bring benefits [1] to human body when consumed in adequate amount.

There are many types of ‘good bacteria’, but what kicks good bacteria up to probiotic status is the amount of, and qualified health beneficial status of, these good bacteria. The two we most commonly consume: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, also known as ‘live yogurt cultures’ as they are vital to crafting yogurt. You’ll find these two strains in any yogurt – but not necessarily in the same quantities. These strains of probiotics produce lactase – an enzyme that breaks down the sugar in milk (i.e. lactose), nicely aiding lactose digestion for those who are lactose-intolerant.

When consumed in sufficient quantities, probiotics help you feel good from within*. To reap the benefit of probiotics, of course, you can pop into a store and get probiotics as supplements, but why not just open your fridge? You can easily include them in your diet!

All yogurts contain live yogurt cultures – namely Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, but here’s the inside scoop – not all yogurts contain sufficient quantities to be classified as probiotics. To qualify as a yogurt with probiotics, the yogurt must have at least 100 000 000 CFU* per gram of yogurt cultures. Not all yogurts reach this requirement. Activia is packed with billions of probiotics, exceeding the 108 CFU per gram threshold. Every pot of Activia has a blend of five strains in total which adds to its delicious taste and texture.

To become yogurt, milk needs to go through a lacto-fermentation process. Besides transforming milk into yogurt, the process offers benefits such as naturally reducing the amount of lactose in milk and creating a happy environment for probiotics to thrive. How does this happen? In the creation of yogurt, lactic bacteria feed on lactose, making lactic acid. This generates the ideal environment for good bacteria to thrive, as well as creating the typical, somewhat acidic flavour of yogurt. The fermentation process is slightly different in the case of Activia - the unique mix of five strains is slowly fermented at a gentle 37°C (not the typical 43-46°C) for hours - the perfect home for billions of live cultures to thrive.

If you’ve wondered about the effects of probiotics, gut health experts have found that probiotics can contribute to our well-being by assisting lactose digestion in people who have difficulty digesting lactose naturally.

In the human intestine, lactose must be broken down by the enzyme lactase to be digested. Live yogurt cultures produce this enzyme.

So, how do probiotics work? During fermentation, and mostly in the gut, the lactase from the probiotic cultures breaks down the lactose into easily digestible compounds such as glucose and galactose. Thanks to the probiotics that help with lactose digestion, the lactose in yogurt is digested more efficiently than in unfermented milk (for instance) by people who have difficulty digesting lactose.

There’s a popular saying, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” which neatly applies to making good everyday health choices. Adding daily probiotic-packed Activia to your diet is a great way to ensure regular consumption of probiotics. With Activia, you can make good (and convenient) diet choices that taste great too.