WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Probiotics Could Make You Healthier

Probiotics. It sounds like something concocted in the lab of a mad scientist, but it's a natural occurrence.

"They're microorganisms that are added to foods. A lot of people think bacteria are only bad bacteria, but they are actually good, beneficial bacteria," said Dr. Jean Weese,  an Alabama Cooperative Extension System food scientist and Auburn University professor of nutrition and food science.

These bacteria help break down food in your intestine, but how do you know where to find these little guys?

"Naturally, they come in mostly fermented milk products. Buttermilk, yogurt, yogurt-type drinks, those kind of things," said Dr. Robert Keith,  an Alabama Cooperative Extension System nutritionist and Auburn University professor of nutrition and foods.

While they do help in digestion, they serve another purpose.

"They also keep the bad bacteria from getting in there and setting up abnormally large colonies and producing toxins that will make you ill," said Keith.

Those colonies could be E.coli or salmonella. If you happen to get one of these bad bacteria, you'll need to replace the good bacteria they destroy.

"You would do it yourself slowly or most people will. It depends on the intestine system and the health of the individual. Some people do not replace them well, and that's when they need a little help," said Weese.

--Written by: Brock Parker