Probiotics are making their mark on the natural and mainstream markets, becoming the go-to products for addressing a range of conditions and promoting health. Research has steadily uncovered more crucial information about these friendly bacteria, highlighting digestive health as a gateway to total-body wellness.
Combined Effort
As industry has become friendlier with friendly flora, probiotic whole foods combination products have become a hot trend. The benefits and convenience of such products present amazing health opportunities. Jay Levy, director of sales for Wakunaga of America Co., Ltd., Mission Viejo, CA, says, “We have found that probiotics combined with other actives such as fiber, enzymes and probiotics can have a synergistic benefits, such as supporting healthy digestion, regularity and immune function.”
As industry has become friendlier with friendly flora, probiotic whole foods combination products have become a hot trend. The benefits and convenience of such products present amazing health opportunities. Jay Levy, director of sales for Wakunaga of America Co., Ltd., Mission Viejo, CA, says, “We have found that probiotics combined with other actives such as fiber, enzymes and probiotics can have a synergistic benefits, such as supporting healthy digestion, regularity and immune function.”
Mixing it up. One avenue of combination products is to include prebiotics along with probiotics. Prebiotics are nondigestible nutrients used by beneficial bacteria that naturally live in the gut, and are sometimes known as fermentable fiber. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a common prebiotic. According to Kate Jones, vice president at Nutrition Now, Vancouver, WA, “FOS has been shown to greatly support probiotic growth in the intestinal tract. Unlike most other carbohydrates and starches, FOS isn’t broken down in the digestive tract and, therefore, it’s highly utilized by the probiotic bacteria.” Other common prebiotic sources are galactooligosaccharides, which are naturally found in human breast milk, and inulin....
