Helpful or beneficial bacteria are called probiotics. Probiotics or friendly bacteria are able to alter the intestinal microflora balance favorably.
They also inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria as well as promote good digestion and boost immune function and thus increase resistance to inflammation and infection.
People with flourishing intestinal colonies of beneficial bacteria are better equipped to fight the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Helpful bacteria only provide a protective effect when a proper balance is maintained among all the different bacteria and fungi that normally reside in your intestine.
If your normal bacteria become depleted or the balance of bacteria is disturbed, potentially harmful bacteria can overgrow, outnumber helpful bacteria and become established, causing digestive and other health problems.
These harmful bacteria are known as pathogenic bacteria and they have the ability to cause gastro-intestinal problems such as diarrhea or abdominal pain if not kept in check by the beneficial bacteria.
Probiotic bacteria also produce substances called bacteriocins, which act as natural antibiotics to kill undesirable microorganisms e.g. fungus and yeast, viruses, parasites and bacteria.
