In recent years, there has been an increasing number of probiotic products available, with different bacterial strains, quantities, and even benefits. Which ones should consumers choose?
According to the World Health Organization's definition, probiotics are microorganisms that provide health benefits to the human body when ingested in appropriate amounts.
The human gut is filled with a large amount of microorganisms, including bacteria, some of which are harmful. If harmful bacteria grow in excess for a long period of time, they will increase the production of harmful substances. Once the gut bacteria are imbalanced, it can lead to immune system imbalance, gastrointestinal inflammation, and other problems. Probiotics effectively inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and at the same time provide the body with vitamins and short-chain fatty acids.
The Consumer Council points out that there are over a hundred types of probiotic products on the market, each with different benefits. The most mainstream types are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Lactobacillus helps metabolize sugar and produce lactic acid, while Bifidobacterium produces lactic acid, B vitamins, and acetic acid. Both can acidify the gut environment, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, and relieve digestive discomfort and constipation.
To find a reliable probiotic, the Consumer Council recommends looking for international certifications from organizations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and choosing a product that contains more than 100 billion probiotics to be effective. It should be noted that it usually takes one to two weeks of taking probiotic products for the proportion of probiotics in the gut to gradually increase, and symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort such as normal bowel movements and reduced diarrhea will begin to improve.