Replenish your probiotics

Vicki Koenig, MS, RD, CDN

We’re outnumbered! Did you know that the gastrointestinal tract has ten times more bacterial cells than there are human cells in the body? The key is replenishing the good ones and keeping the bad bacteria in check.

Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, provide a health benefit^[2]. Because Stonyfield Farm yogurt contains probiotics, there’s a benefit beyond the nutrition of the yogurt itself.

All yogurts contain the starter cultures Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Stonyfield adds four more probiotic cultures: L. acidophilus, Bifidus, L. casei and L. rhamnosus.*

How much do you need?

There is no recommended dietary allowance for probiotics. Experts note that to obtain a probiotic benefit, one must consume the amount of a specific strain shown to be effective in clinical studies. Because one serving of Stonyfield yogurt^** contains at least one billion CFUs (colony forming units, a measure of live bacteria) of Lactobacillus rhamnosus — an amount comparable to what has been tested in several studies — we know that one serving provides a health benefit.

Different strains have different benefits. The L. rhamnosus Stonyfield uses has been shown to boost the immune system and enhance digestive health. One serving of Stonyfield yogurt** has comparable amounts of L. rhamnosus as research has shown will colonize the intestine. This means that if your natural probiotics are depleted, eating yogurt will help replenish your intestine with beneficial bacteria. Looking for an immune boost? One serving^** has a comparable amount of probiotic cultures shown to increase natural killer cells — a major constituent of the immune system defending us against infection.

What kills the probiotics?

The balance of probiotics in the body is disrupted by antibiotics, poor nutrition, stress, alcohol, smoking, pollution, surgery and aging. Replenishment is necessary to maintain the balance. Eating yogurt is an easy way to help keep these beneficial cultures in balance.

Yogurt is an ideal probiotic delivery system

Yogurt can help buffer the effects of stomach acid, bile and digestive enzymes and helps increase the likelihood that the bacteria will survive in the intestine. Along with good doses of vitamins, calcium, and protein, why not have a dose of natural beneficial probiotics with your serving of Stonyfield yogurt?

*Stonyfield's Oikos Organic Greek yogurt contains five live active cultures. Stonyfield Greek Style contains three.

** One serving of Stonyfield yogurt equals one 6-oz. cup of yogurt or O’Soy; one 4-oz. serving from a quart of yogurt; one 4-oz. cup of YoBaby, YoKids, or probiotic yogurt; or one Smoothie.

For more information:

^[1] Bode C. “Effect of alcohol consumption on the gut.” Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2003 Aug; 17(4):575–592.

^[2] The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. “Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food including Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria: Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation.” Oct. 2001, p. 6.

^[3] Gill HS et al. “Dietary probiotic supplementation enhances natural killer cell activity in the elderly: an investigation of age-related immunological changes.” J Clin Immunol 2001 Jul; 21(4):264–271.

^[4] Gill HS et al. “Dietary probiotic supplementation to enhance cellular immunity in the elderly.” Br J Biomed Sci 2001; 58(2):94–96.

^[5] Gill HS and Rutherford KJ. “Probiotic supplementation to enhance natural immunity in the elderly: effects of a newly characterized immunostimulatory strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (DR20^TM) on leucocyte phagocytosis.” Nutr Res 2001 Jan; 21(1):183–189.

^[6] Sheih Y-H et al. “Systemic Immunity-Enhancing Effects in Healthy Subjects Following Dietary Consumption of the Lactic Acid Bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001.” J Am Coll Nutr 2001; 20(2):149–156.

^[7] Tannock GW et al. “Analysis of the fecal microflora of human subjects consuming a probiotic product containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DR20.” Appl Environ Microbiol 2000 Jun; 66(6):2578–2588.

^[8] U.S. Probiotics: A nonprofit research group focused on probiotics.