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The And Probiotics Are Functional Foods That Can Have A Positive Impact On Human Health Essay

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Prebiotics and probiotics are functional foods that can have a positive impact on human health

As advances in microbiology, and food sciences generally, continue to expand rapidly, prebiotics, probiotics, their characteristics and health benefits become a more and more interesting field for scientific research.
Their primary features and their impact on human health will be discussed in this essay.

Prebiotics-definition and sources
According to Gibson and Roberfroid (1995) prebiotics are “nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria species already resident in the colon, and thus attempt to improve host health”. ISAPP has defined prebiotics as “dietary ingredients that result in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefit(s) upon host health” (ISAPP, 2008). However, scientists continue to argue about the definition of prebiotics and Hutkins et al. (2016) suggested that a specific definition might not be necessary at this point mainly due to vast scientific progress in the field.
Prebiotics are usually found in chicories, onions, garlic, artichokes, fermented milk and cereals (Anadόn et al., 2010; Drakoularakou et al., 2011).

Genus Probiotic name
Lactobacilli L. acidophilus L. casei L. plantarum L. reuteri L. rhamnosus L. salivarus
Bifidobacteria B. breve B. longum B. lactis
Bacillus B.

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