Probiotics So Much Used In Medicine Or Food, Are They Really Beneficial?

Nowadays, probiotics are so much prevalent as either medicine or in food as it is being thought that probiotic with so-called beneficial bacteria are supposed to treat everything from constipation to obesity to depression. In addition to foods traditionally prepared with live bacterial cultures (such as yoghurt and other fermented dairy products), consumers can now purchase probiotic capsules and pills, fruit juices, cereals, sausages, cookies, candy, granola bars and pet food. Indeed, the popularity of probiotics has grown so much in recent years that manufacturers have even added the microorganisms to cosmetics and mattresses.

But if we study the science underlying microbe-based treatments, we find that most of the health claims for probiotics are pure hype. The majority of studies to date have failed to reveal any benefits to individuals who are already healthy. The bacteria seem to…