The word probiotic actually means ‘for life’. The World Health Organisation define a probiotic as ‘live micro-organism which, when administered in adequate amounts counter a health benefit on the host’. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in your digestive system.

 

The human digestive system contains over 400 different species of micro-organisms. On average, an adult human carries approximately two to four kilograms of bacterial gut flora. This represents an enormous number of bacteria. The reason we need so many bacteria inside us is because we require them for many beneficial actions within the body. They help keep our digestive system healthy, help us digest food, make certain nutrients that we are unable to make ourselves and help maintain a healthy immune system.