Your Opinions on adding prebiotic elements to foods

[Muscled Welsh Webmaster]

Do members think the addition of prebiotic elements to foods is a practical way to improve the nation's health or a slick marketing ploy?

[gymBum]

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Prebiotics are a category of functional food, defined as: Non digestible food ingredients, that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improve host health (Gibson and Roberfroid, 1995).[1]
Most potential prebiotics are carbohydrates (such as oligosaccharides), but the definition does not exclude the use of non-carbohydrates as prebiotics.
The definition does not emphasize a specific bacterial group. Often, however, it is assumed that a prebiotic should increase the number and/or activity of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, as these groups of bacteria are claimed to have several beneficial effects on the host. A product that stimulates (or claims to stimulate) bifidobacteria is considered a bifidogenic factor. Some prebiotics may thus also act as a bifidogenic factor and vice versa, but the two concepts are not identical.[2]
Typical dietary sources of prebiotics are Jerusalem artichokes, which contain inulin, raw oats, and unrefined wheat or barley. The prebiotic oligosaccharides that naturally occur in breast milk are believed to play an important role in the development of a healthy immune system in infants.
Prebiotic oligosaccharides may be added to processed foods. Some prebiotics that are used in this manner are fructooligosaccharides (FOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and galactooligosaccharides.

Given that and a few other articles I read, I think there is definite potential to improve health. I haven't read of any negative effects so far. As for marketing, I'm sure some companies will take advantage of it and use some word trickery in promoting their brand over others, but I think this can be found in almost any market. Might as well improve some stuff if the marketing will be there either way.

[gpowlftr]

I know a few weeks back, I had a serious bout with the stomach flu. I didn't start getting better until I started eating yogurt and probiotic formulas. Probiotics are the good bacteria that you need to keep your immune system and digestive tract properly working.

I agree that the marketing gurus will try to make this out as a miracle supplement.