Each day people stuff their faces with food. Most people don't give too much thought about the physiology of digestion, so for them, their interest in dining stops with taste. But did you know that bacteria can be tasty AND good for you?

Bacteria are involved in a lot of food manufacturing processes. For instance cheeses and yogurts acquire their taste from bacterial cultures. Most foods have some level of bacteria present when you purchase them, unless of course they have been pasteurized. The pasteurization process kills off all the bad viral and bacterial cells. The trouble is it also kills off the wonderful beneficial bacteria that were present in the formation of the cheeses, yogurts, etc. Pasteurization kills off bacteria that our body needs.

Our digestive tract is full of bacteria. These bacteria are referred to in medicine as the "gut flora" and aid in things from the breakdown and storage of fats to immune response. (More on all this later.) But the bacteria had to get there somehow.

The process begins at birth. When we are born we begin digesting the bacteria from our very first meal. The bacteria we ingest begin to take root in our digestive tract and form colonies. Both good and bad bacterial colonies provoke immune response and help train the immune system to respond to pathogenic invaders. But why do these bacteria love us so much? Why should we love them?

The human GI Tract is a paradise for bacteria. It's warm and moist and there is a steady supply of food for the bacteria. The only obstacle to the colonization would be our immune system and antibiotics. The nice thing about the good bacteria is that our bodies, when healthy, don't attack good bacteria. However, when we are ill and given antibiotics our bodies' immune systems go into overdrive and kill off all kinds of bacteria. Even the good kind. Ever had diarrhea while on an antibiotic? That's the result of good bacterial colonies in the intestine being killed off. The bacteria in your gut helps control digestion. But that's not all they do.
Studies have been done all over the world on probiotics. Probiotics are dietary supplements that contain beneficial bacteria and yeasts. These studies have shown that certain bacteria such as Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium animalis, and many many more, can do the following:

Manage Lactose Intolerance: As lactic acid bacteria actively convert lactose into lactic acid, ingestion of certain active strains may help lactose intolerant individuals tolerate more lactose than what they would have otherwise.[2] In practice probiotics are not specifically targeted for this purpose, as most are relatively low in lactase activity as compared to the normal yogurt bacteria.

Prevent Colon Cancer: In laboratory investigations, some strains of LAB have demonstrated anti-mutagenic effects thought to be due to their ability to bind with heterocyclic amines; carcinogenic substances formed in cooked meat. Animal studies have demonstrated that some LAB can protect against colon cancer in rodents, though human data is limited and conflicting. Most human trials have found that the strains tested may exert anti-carcinogenic effects by decreasing the activity of an enzyme called ß-glucuronidase (which can generate carcinogens in the digestive system). Lower rates of colon cancer among higher consumers of fermented dairy products have been observed in some population studies.

Lower Cholesterol: Animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy of a range of LAB to be able to lower serum cholesterol levels, presumably by breaking down bile in the gut, thus inhibiting its reabsorption (which enters the blood as cholesterol). Some, but not all human trials have shown that dairy foods fermented with specific LAB can produce modest reductions in total and LDL cholesterol levels in those with normal levels to begin with, however trials in hyperlipidemic subjects are needed

Lower Blood Pressure: Several small clinical trials have shown that consumption of milk fermented with various strains of LAB can result in modest reductions in blood pressure. It is thought that this is due to the ACE inhibitor-like (ACE is an acronym for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. I learn a lot in A & P ) peptides produced during fermentation.

Improve Immune Function and Prevent Infections: LAB are thought to have several presumably beneficial effects on immune function. They may protect against pathogens by means of competitive inhibition (i.e., by competing for growth) and there is evidence to suggest that they may improve immune function by increasing the number of IgA-producing plasma cells, increasing or improving phagocytosis as well as increasing the proportion of T lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells. Clinical trials have demonstrated that probiotics may decrease the incidence of respiratory tract infections and dental caries in children LAB foods and supplements have been shown to be effective in the treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea; decreasing the severity and duration of rotavirus infections in children as well as travelers diarrhea in adults.

Help Treat the Ulcer Causing Helicobacter Pylori Infection in the Stomach: LAB are also thought to aid in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections (which cause peptic ulcers) in adults when used in combination with standard medical treatments.

Ease Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea: A meta-analysis suggested probiotics may reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea. A subsequent randomized controlled trail also found benefit in elderly patients.

Reduce Inflammation Associated With IBD and IBS: LAB foods and supplements have been found to modulate inflammatory and hypersensitivity responses, an observation thought to be at least in part due to the regulation of cytokine function. Clinical studies suggest that they can prevent reoccurrences of inflammatory bowel disease in adults,as well as improve milk allergies and decrease the risk of atopic eczema in children.

Improve Mineral Absorption: It is hypothesized that probiotic lactobacilli may help correct malabsorption of trace minerals, found particularly in those with diets high in phytate content from whole grains, nuts, and legumes

Prevent Harmful Bacteria From Growing In Intestines: In a study done to see the effects of stress on intestinal flora, rats that were fed probiotics had little occurrence of harmful bacteria latched onto their intestines compared to rats that were fed sterile water.

Aide In Management of Irritable Bowel: B. infantis 35624, sold as Align, was found to improve some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in women in a recent study. Another probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum 299V, was also found to be effective in reducing IBS symptoms. Additionally, a probiotic formulation, VSL3, was found to be effective in treating ulcerative colitis Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 may help

And while we are just beginning to understand some aspects of the symbiotic relationship we share with the bacteria in our guts, it is evident that some forms of bacteria are good for us. So why are there so few food products out there right now that offer probiotics?

Simple. Ignorance. From the time we were children we were taught that you should wash your hands before eating because you'd get germs and get sick. People hear the word bacteria associated with food and they run screaming in fear. Food manufacturers are afraid to offer probiotic foods because they think they won't sell, and grocery stores are afraid to carry probiotic foods for the same reason. Luckily there are some products available that are probiotic. What are they?

I thought you might ask. Kraft Foods offers Kraft LiveActive but I think those products are only available in Canada right now. But I would expect to see that on shelves in the US soon. There are some yogurts out there that offer "Live Cultures" and those are probiotic products. Those offer the Lactic Acid Bacteria that show so much promise in studies. Those products are available in the US as well. Products that you might see that are probiotic or contain live cultures would be things like yogurt, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, juice, and whey drinks. Some soy products contain active cultures as well because lactose intolerant people can't drink milk so they don't get the same benefits from dairy products that the rest of us do.

See? Bacteria can be a good for you! Though I still wouldn't advocate eating with filthy hands, it is interesting to know about all the things that good bacteria can do for us. I leave you with a quote from Larry the Cable Guy that should have new meaning for you, as it does for me, "Support Bacteria--it's the only culture some people have."