Seven Myths About Probiotics
Dr. Cai Yingjie, Ph.D. from Tokyo University, Taiwan, and Professor Cai Yingjie, Institute of Chemistry, Yangming University, Taiwan, has been researching probiotics for more than 40 years. Probiotic health care is getting more and more attention and popularity. However, Professor Cai Yingjie found that Chinese people have many myths about probiotics, so that they don’t know how to buy them, or even eat the wrong probiotics, but they do not achieve the purpose of health care.
The editorial team specially interviewed Professor Cai to sort out the common myths about the use of probiotics that Professor Cai observed:
● Myth 1: The more probiotics, the better?
wrong! Probiotics are not the more the better
What you eat is important. Professor Cai Yingjie said that among some products on the market that claim to have a bacterial count of more than 100 billion per serving, more than 90% of them are mainly Enterococcus (Enterococcus) , which is small in size and easy to cultivate in large quantities. Bacteria or Lactobacillus plantarum account for less than 10%; therefore, it is better to eat more bacteria than to eat fine.
In terms of digestive health care , 10-20 billion a day is enough; 20 billion bacteria a day for physique adjustment function , you can see the effect after three months; and for special functions such as physical and mental maintenance , metabolic regulation , etc., you need to eat more than 60 billion a day .
● Myth 2: The function of probiotics depends on the “strain”?
wrong! The function of probiotics should be based on “strains” instead of blind selection
Prof. Cai Yingjie pointed out that the difference between ” strain ” and ” strain ” is not a game of words. The function of probiotics is strain-specific, even if different strains of the same strain have different functions.
Species that cover a wider range can only summarize the direction of one function and are less valuable for reference. Different probiotic strains have their own special functions , such as improving happiness factor , helping sleep , adjusting physique , and promoting metabolism . The same is true, you can’t be confused just because you see the word “probiotics”.
Taking Professor Cai Yingjie’s laboratory as an example, it is also Lactobacillus plantarum (Lactobacillus plantarum), only PS128 TM has the function of adjusting the body and mind to help sleep , only K21 TM can adjust metabolism , and there are other physical adjustment effects that are particularly good Lactobacillus plantarum, so it cannot be said that all the same strains have these three functions.
● Myth 3 : Will it be smooth after taking probiotics?
wrong! Eating probiotics like this can have the opposite effect!
Professor Cai Yingjie explained that people often ask people why they start taking probiotics, but it is more difficult to defecate? The living habits of these people often have the problems of ” not drinking enough water ” and ” not eating enough vegetables, fruits and fibers “. Because probiotics alone are not enough to relieve defecation problems, it is necessary to adjust the overall living and eating habits . And most of the good probiotic products on the market will be added with water-soluble fiber “prebiotics”, so you should drink a lot of water to achieve better effects; Inconvenient bowel movements are more serious.
● Myth 4 : Can modern probiotics technology be mature and can be stored at room temperature?
wrong! Probiotics are afraid of heat!
Professor Cai Yingjie explained that the so-called normal temperature/room temperature in laboratory routines generally refers to 25 degrees. Probiotics are naturally afraid of high temperature . When the temperature exceeds more than 30 degrees , the activity will drop rapidly . For example, 25 degrees can be stable for half a year, and 30 degrees may only be stable for a month. In addition, probiotics can be frozen, but do not take them in and out. Although probiotics are not afraid of freezing, they are afraid of repeated freezing and dissolving. In the cells, ice crystals form and dissolve, which will damage the cell structure the most. Therefore, although it can be frozen, do not enter and exit out.
● Myth 5: Are probiotics useless if they die?
wrong! Certain specially validated probiotic strains, dead bacteria may also work!
Professor Cai Yingjie pointed out that it is a fact that probiotics are afraid of heat. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) proposed that probiotics should be “live bacteria” at that time. More than the power, that is, more than one million can be called probiotics. But after 20 years, there have been studies to find some strains of efficacy, dead bacteria can also produce efficacy. However, whether it is dead or live bacteria , it must be repeatedly verified by a formal and rigorous laboratory for “specific strains” in order to determine its efficacy .
● Myth 6: Probiotics are very safe, can everyone eat them?
wrong! Certain ethnic groups still need to pay attention!
After all, most of the probiotics are in the state of live bacteria. If there are special conditions or people with low self-defense, they should reduce the dose or stop taking them first, and ask a doctor to ensure safety. In addition, the digestive tract defense of newborns is still in the developing stage, and in principle, it is not recommended to feed probiotics arbitrarily .
● Myth 7 : Can probiotics cure many modern diseases?
wrong! Probiotics are only supplements and cannot replace regular treatment
Professor Cai Yingjie emphasized that although probiotics are quite safe health products, they are only supplements and cannot replace medicines . For example, consumers will rush to hear probiotics that can enhance the happiness factor to help sleep. Once the patient rashly stops the drug without the permission of the doctor, it is very dangerous.
