Probiotics

Probiotics are made of good live bacteria and/or yeasts

that naturally live in your body. You constantly have both
good and bad bacteria in your body. When you get an
infection, there’s more bad bacteria, knocking your
system out of balance. Good bacteria helps eliminate
extra bad bacteria, returning the balance. Probiotic-
supplements are a way to add good bacteria to your
body.
What are probiotics?

 Probiotics are a combination of live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your body.
Bacteria is usually viewed in a negative light as something that makes you sick. However, you have two kinds
of bacteria constantly in and on your body — good bacteria and bad bacteria. Probiotics are made up of
good bacteria that helps keep your body healthy and working well. This good bacteria helps you in many
ways, including fighting off bad bacteria when you have too much of it, helping you feel better
 Probiotics are part of a larger picture concerning bacteria and your body — your microbiome. Think of a
microbiome as a diverse community of organisms, such as a forest, that work together to keep your body
healthy. This community is made up of things called microbes. You have trillions of microbes on and in your
body. These microbes are a combination of:
1. Bacteria.
2. Fungi (including yeasts).
3. Viruses.
4. Protozoa.
Where do beneficial probiotics (microbes) live in my body?

 Though the most common place linked to beneficial microbes is your gut (mostly large
intestines), you have several locations in and on your body that host good microbes.
These locations are in contact with the “outside world" and include your:
1. Gut.
2. Mouth.
3. Vagina.
4. Urinary tract.
5. Skin.
6. Lungs.
How do probiotics work?

 The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Think of it as
keeping your body in neutral. When you are sick, bad bacteria enters your body and increases in number.
This knocks your body out of balance. Good bacteria works to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the
balance within your body, making you feel better.
1. Good bacteria keeps you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation.
Certain types of good bacteria can also:
2. Help your body digest food.
3. Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
4. Create vitamins.
5. Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed (through
food or drinks) from entering your blood.
6. Breakdown and absorb medications.
Can I take or eat something to increase the good probiotics
(microbes) in my body?

 You can increase the amount of good microbes in your body through foods, drinks and
supplements. You may already have certain foods in your daily diet that contain
probiotics. Fermented foods in particular (yogurt and pickles, for example) are home to
a host of good bacteria that benefit your body. There are also fermented drinks like
kombucha (fermented tea) or kefir (fermented dairy drink) that introduce extra
probiotics into your diet.
 Recipe for probiotics
My Indian Kimchi
Makes 4-6 cups
800 g–1 kg carrots, peeled
1 daikon, peeled
5–7 cm knob of turmeric, peeled
2 large red chillies, finely chopped (or 3 teaspoons chilli flakes)
2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
2 tablespoons Himalayan pink salt OR 1 tablespoon salt and 1⁄4 cup Homemade Whey
Grate the carrots, daikon and turmeric (use the grater attachment on your blender or food processor)
and place in a glass or ceramic bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix and let sit for 20 minutes to
allow the salt (and whey, if using) to release the juices. If it’s not looking juicy enough, use a mallet or
pestle to ‘massage’ the veggies to release the juices.
Spoon into a large jar with a lid. Press down on the veggies so the juices rise up to cover them. Put a weight on top to
submerge the veggies and put the lid on loosely. Allow to sit at room temperature for 3–5 days (1–2 weeks if you don’t use
whey) before sealing tightly and moving to the fridge, where it will last for up to 3 months I use salt to make kimchi because
to get the best ‘fizzy’ vibe, the ferment needs to be slowed down a little. Of course, if your house is cooler than, say, 20°C, feel
free to prod things and use a bit of whey and less salt.
What are the most common types of probiotic bacteria?

 Though there are many types of bacteria that can be considered probiotics, there are
two specific types of bacteria that are common probiotics found in stores. These
include:
1. Lactobacillus.
2. Bifidobacterium.
 Probiotics are also made up of good yeast. The most common type of yeast found in
probiotics is:
1. Saccharomyces boulardii.
 Made by – priya
 🫶🏻
🏻