Within the past year, more than 200 new food products have emerged in grocery stores around the country containing probiotics, the good bacteria that has been shown to improve a persons digestive health, according to a study.
Datamonitor, a market research firm, found that aside from various yogurt products, which are known to carry the dietary supplement, probiotics were contained in both dairy and non-dairy products, the Des Moines Register reports. Some Iowa stores also have probiotics in some cheeses and sauerkraut.
Heather Illg, a registered and licensed dietitian in Iowa, told the news provider the expansion of probiotics to other foods can help the dietary supplement reach shoppers who “are not yogurt people.”
“There are also probiotic pills you can take,” Illg said.
Studies have shown probiotics can treat various digestive health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and as a possible way to prevent vaginal yeast infections.
Recently a column appearing on NST.com stated probiotics can benefit newborns as well. Breastfeeding can protect newborns from infectious diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems, especially if the baby was born via caesarian section or prematurely, as they may be slower in acquiring probiotics when compared to babies who were born naturally and at full-term.