Opinion: The importance of probiotics

Ayan Biltoft Nielsen, a director at Biosa New Zealand, will be speaking about the science behind the company's probiotic drinks at the Green Living Show 2015. Photo / Supplied

Ayan Nielsen is a director at Biosa New Zealand. The company has specialised in fermented probiotic herbal drinks in Denmark, and Nielsen will be marking its launch in New Zealand with a presentation about the venture at the Green Living Show 2015.

What are Probiotics, and why are they so important?

You probably don't consider this very often, but you have 100 trillion gut flora bacteria in your gut that works to process anything that enters your stomach, and these bacteria outnumber the cells in your body by a factor of 10 to one. This gut flora is a major player of your immune system, which of course, is your body's natural defense system that keeps you healthy. Research have shown that up to 80% of the immune system is built in the stomach, in other words, the health of your body is largely tied into the health of your gut, and it's hard to have one be healthy if the other is not. A healthy ecosystem of gut flora bacteria can therefore counteract inflammation and digestive disorders, produce vitamins and amino acids, eliminate toxins, control asthma and reduce risk of allergies, as well as benefiting your mood and mental health.

So how do we ensure we have enough probiotic bacteria?

While a strong immune system is tied to a healthy gut, a healthy gut is tied to a healthy diet. In the modern age that we live in, the use of pesticides in the production of foods means that many of the positive bacteria that we should be getting from our natural food sources to combat negative bacteria, are often inhibited. For this reason, a large amount of people today suffer side effects from the lack of healthy gut flora.

Should I take Probiotic pills?

Probiotic pills do contain bacteria strains that can be beneficial, but one of the main issues is the state that they are in. Our stomach acids presents a very harsh environment for incoming bacteria, and when freeze dried probiotic pills enter through our stomach acids, it is very difficult for them to survive the climate. And the ones that do survive need nourishment before they can go to work. Therefore, a natural and very effective alternative is to look for probiotics that are made through a fermentation process.

What are fermented probiotics, and why are they considered better?

Fermented Probiotics are bacteria cultures which have gone through a fermentation process in which the cultures convert natural sugars into lactic acid, which can result in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, otherwise known as Lactic Acid Bacteria. Fermented bacteria are therefore in an acidic state which endures and supports our natural stomach acids, and have already been pre nourished to a live state, which also means they do not require additional nourishment when assimilating with our intestinal flora.

Come and hear my seminar at the Green Living Show on the 27th of June at 12:30am in Room 2, and I will further explain everything mentioned here, as well as share with you the important discoveries I have made from working with Fermented Probiotics.

Ayan Nielsen is a director at Biosa New Zealand, and he will be speaking about the science behind the company's fermented probiotic herbal drinks from Denmark at the Green Living Show 2015.

Like what you see? For weekly Element news sign up to our newsletter. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.