Vegan Talk Forums

BigBecka · Animal defender Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 415

Over the past couple of years, I've noticed a lot of yoghurts and yoghurt drinks being advertised as containing probiotics or prebiotics.

These adverts often make claims about the product reducing bloating and digestive discomfort, and boosting the immune system. Many of my friends and colleagues now believe that cheese and yoghurt are necessary for a healthy gut and immune system.

I am confused: I feel healthier since becoming vegan, and have not heard of anyone experiencing gut or immune problems

How important are these pro/pre-biotics? And are there vegetal sources?

AndyBa · Lord of the posts Joined: 27 May 2001 Posts: 670

Here are some quotations from wikipedia:

Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast.
They are sometimes recommended by doctors, after a course of antibiotics.
There is no published evidence that probiotic supplements are able to replace the body’s natural flora when these have been killed off; indeed bacterial levels in feces disappear within days when supplementation ceases

Maintenance of a healthy gut flora is, dependent on many factors, especially the quality of food intake. Including a significant proportion of prebiotic foods in the diet has been demonstrated to support a healthy probiotic flora and may be a more effective and sustainable means of achieving the desirable health benefits promised by probiotics.

Prebiotics are food that stimulates the growth and activity of bacteria in the colon. Most potential prebiotics are carbohydrates (such as oligosaccharides).
Typical dietary sources of prebiotics are soybeans, Jerusalem artichokes (which contain inulin), raw oats, unrefined wheat and unrefined barley
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Andy`Ba

The human body has no more need for cows' milk than it does for dogs' milk, horses' milk, or giraffes' milk. ~Michael Klaper, M.D., author of Vegan Nutrition: Pure & Simple