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Probiotics : Understanding How It Works in Maintaining Gut Health

by Carey Lise

While there are talks about the impending ban of antibiotics as drug medication for animals, the ban is largely based on findings about weakened immune systems. Apparently such cases have been found as also true in humans, which is why a new science has emerged, delving mostly in probiotics or the use of bacterial spore-formers.

In agriculture and aquaculture, probiotic applications as alternatives to antibiotics have been proven as largely successful. Currently, as far as human health is concerned, commercially developed probiotics are still being marketed as food or dietary supplements and not as alternatives to antibiotics.

According to medical studies, the difficulties encountered in developing new vaccines were largely due to failures in identifying new antibiotics. Yet Instead of focusing on developing antibiotics to help the immune system destroy viruses attacking major organs, the field of probiotics found it compelling to develop probiotics instead.

What Exactly is Probiotics?

First off, the term biotics refers to living organisms that take shape and form as fungi in freshwater ecological systems inhabited by fish, aquatic plants, algae and amphibians. Included among the fungi are spores that serve as seeds that later germinate and grow in plants while thriving in agreeable environments.

Some form edible mushrooms while others are living organisms with reproductive capabilities and ability to produce biotic energy that other living organisms find useful as food sources. Some take the form of ferns, bacteria, molds and moss existing in various ecosystems.

Currently, the field of probiotics focuses mainly in developing probiotic products using bacterial spore-formers, particularly the genus Bacillus. The products developed are in spore forms that have exhibited capabilities to produce metabolites, enzymes and natural antibiotics useful in fighting microorganisms that cause gastrointestinal disorders.

However, understanding the use and applications of Bacillus and their probiotic effects is quite complex. It requires a deeper understanding of microbial interactions taking place inside the gastrointestinal tract.

Generally, the usefulness of Bacillus species as probiotic factors have been considered because they are microorganisms that are native to microflora commonly found in food matrices in varying locations. Also called allochthonous microorganisms, they have shown beneficial use in food fermentations as culture starters.

Megasporebiotic as Example of Probiotic Food Supplement Using Bacillus Spores

The best way to understand probiotics and the use of Bacillus spores is to cite the food supplement Megasporebiotic as an example. While currently over 40 different species of Bacillus have been established, the Megasporebiotic uses a blend of five of the Bacillus genus that have been identified.

The combination of the 5 Bacillus spores have shown 99.99% ability to survive while in the digestive tract and to remain dormant amidst harsh environments. Yet they are able to activate once inside the large intestines and colonize other essential microorganisms that can help form barriers in protecting the gut microbiomes. Doing so also helps the body maintain a well-functioning immune system.

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