50+ Lifestyles

What Are Probiotics, and What Do they Do?

By Chrissy Watters MS, RDN, LDN
Hy-Vee Registered Dietician
(309) 793-0684
cwatters@hy-vee.com

Fifty percent of Americans are estimated to suffer from mild digestive discomfort. Chances are if you are one of them, you have had heard about probiotics. Probiotics have been shown to help a number of health conditions, especially in relation to digestive health.

What are probiotics?

According to the World Health Foundation, probiotics are living microorganisms that when consumed in sufficient
numbers can provide health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. The word “probiotic” translates to “for life” when taken from its Greek roots. Basically, probiotics are good-for-you, friendly bacteria.

What do probiotics do?

Probiotics support the balance of bacteria that is vital for immune and digestive health. The human digestive system is naturally inhabited by billions of bacteria that are collectively called the microbiome. Most of the bacteria resides in the l
ining of the human gut, which contains about three pounds of bacteria. Many factors can throw off the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria; these include:

•  Stress

•  Medicine

•  Illness

•  Aging

•  Diet

•  Gender – women tend to have a more sensitive GI tract than men

Where can I find probiotics?

Adding probiotics to your daily diet is a great way to improve the balance that lifestyle factors affect. The most common natural probiotic-containing foods are those that have been fermented, including:

•  Yogurt, such as Activia®

•  Kefir (a drinkable yogurt)

•  Kombucha (a fermented tea)

•  Sauerkraut or kimchi (fermented cabbage and other vegetables)

•  Miso or tempeh (fermented soybean products)

Try this Chocolate Cherry Dessert Shot, a “sweet” way to increase your probiotic consumption.   

Chocolate Cherry Yogurt Dessert Shot

Serves 2

All you need:

2  Hy-Vee mini fudge graham crackers, crushed and divided

1 (4oz) container Dannon Activia black cherry yogurt, divided

1 (4oz) container Dannon Activia vanilla yogurt, divided

½ cup coarsely chopped, pitted cherries, divided

All you do:

1.  Layer ingredients in order, in dessert shot glasses: ¼ cup crushed chocolate graham crackers, 1 oz Activia black cherry yogurt, 1 oz Activia vanilla yogurt, 1/8 cup chopped cherries.

2.  Repeat layers. Top with 1/3 of chocolate graham cracker crumbs.  Serve immediately.  Repeat process to make a
second yogurt dessert shot.  Refrigerate if not consuming immediately.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 180 calories, 4g fat, 3g saturated fat, 5mg cholesterol, 85mg sodium, 32g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 25g sugars, 5g protein.

Daily values: 4% vitamin C, 15% calcium, 2% iron.

Source: Hy-Vee Dietitians

This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.