Probiotics: Why Everyone Should Be Careful with Antibiotics

Let's first define probiotics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), probiotics are live cells in the human colon ingested and elicit beneficial effects to the host. In this definition, live cells are explained to be all forms of living organisms other than the basic human (or animal) cell components, and the beneficial effects are those effects that enhance good health.

Live cells in the human colon include facultative and obligate anaerobes, which depend on fermentation to achieve their metabolic requirement. These microorganisms include such bacteria as Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, and others. These microorganisms help in digesting some of our food components that are generally regarded as prebiotics, or even other common foods to give byproducts that are useful for body development and defense.

Another way probiotics helps in the body is to generate antibodies that will fight any similar bacteria which might invade the body system. Presence of microorganisms in the colon enable the body's defense mechanism to be activated which will later develop to acquired immunity for the individual. Finally, presence of probiotics enables the colon to have its barrier properties against unwanted solids to enter the blood stream and cells enhanced. The barrier is enhanced by the microorganisms clinging into the mucus of the colon thereby forming a barrier to the colon porosity.