Are probiotics good or fake?

This is a follow-up to a blog from several days ago where I discussed the health benefits of eating foods that have first been eaten by bacteria. He gave examples of soy sauce, kimchi, yogurt, and others.

There is actually a LOT of confusion in the literature about whether or not there is any benefit to yogurts that have bacteria added to them. If you believe all the hype, probiotics can relieve gas, bloating, and diarrhea. They can help you lose weight, have more energy, and boost your immune system. In fact??

Maybe. Sometimes. For some people.

It’s complicated. There are several problems. Not least is the fact that the effects of probiotics are strain-specific. Strains can differ within the same species, and there are not as many beneficial strains. For example, there are multiple strains of L.acidopholus and one strain (such as LA-5) does not necessarily have the same benefits as another. As it stands now, companies don’t have to disclose which strains of bacteria they add to their products. They also don’t have to tell consumers the dose of bacteria they add, and that’s important.

Probiotics only work if they are ALIVE when you open the product. The fact that bacteria are alive when added to the product does not guarantee that they will be alive for the entire shelf life of the product.

In a recent consumer lawsuit against Dannon, Dannon agreed to remove from DanActive’s label the word “Immunity” and the claim that the drink has a “positive effect” on the immune system. His claims were not supported by any investigation.

As always, the consumer must be vigilant and stay informed. You really can’t believe everything you read on a label.

Maria Bell RD/LD