100 trillion bacteria is the estimated amount of micro-organisms present in the average human intestine, so why on Earth do we need to eat more? The answer to this, and many dietary enquiries, is balance!

Both harmful and healthful bacteria are present in our intestines and the key to keeping healthy is to maintain these in careful proportion. When a bacterial imbalance arises, i.e. the bad outweighing the good, toxic problems in the body may arise. Hence the need for a preventative approach, which is precisely the role of prebiotics and probiotics in the diet.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that provide nourishment for selective healthy bacteria, thereby encouraging the growth of positive strains for optimal intestinal ratios. Food sources containing prebiotics include bananas, onions, asparagus, rye, honey and oats.

Probiotics on the other hand are actual live organisms, which if ingested, compete with harmful bacteria for space and sustenance in the digestive tract, thereby minimizing the potential growth of toxic bacteria. The main food vehicle for probiotics is yoghurt.

The many positive functions of probiotics in the body are strain specific (meaning that different types of bacteria may have a different effect), but the general list of advantageous functions include improved immune function; improved digestion and food intolerance symptoms; improved IBS related symptoms (bloating, abdominal, pain, flatulence and diarrhoea); fewer urinary tract infections, and prevention of antibiotic related disturbances in intestinal micro-flora.

In summary, eating your daily dose of Honeydew yoghurt (with probiotic cultures) will do wonders for your intestinal ecosystem, so start today and keep the bad bugs at bay!