9.29.2009 12:12 PM

Are New Probiotic Foods Really Good for You?

People have long known the benefits of some bacteria in yogurt and other products, and food companies are trying to capitalize on this. But is that a good idea?

Comments

Photo: Richard Scherzinger/Istock

By Robyn O'Brien

As headlines swirl about who-knows-what being found in our food supply, another ingredient continues to make the news: probiotics. PRObiotics are increasingly added to the food supply to help replace what the ANTIbiotics are taking away: health-promoting bacteria, the healthy little critters in our digestive tracts that are essential to the digestive process.

In today's New York Times, Tara Parker Pope highlights the increasing use of these PRObiotics in our food supply. In her smart column, she suggests that Buyer Beware: plenty of manufacturers appear to be exploiting the increasing popularity of these ingredients, as a way to promote their products (probiotic supplements are also becoming increasingly common). Parker Pope then gives smart tips and savvy insight into ways that you can navigate the yogurt aisle (where probiotics are most commonly found), for those of you making a concerted effort to address the growing health impact that ANTIbiotics in our food appear to be having on our health.

Looking Underneath the Yogurt Label is a smart read for those wanting to do more for their health without damaging their pocketbooks and for those hoping to understand the role that PRObiotics play in addressing the ANTIbiotics in our food supply.

This article was first published at AllergyKids.com, and is reprinted with permission. Robyn O'Brien is the founder of AllergyKids, which is working to help people protect the health of their families.