Used for thousands of years to preserve foods, lactic acid bacteria offer multiple health benefits. How can you make optimal use of them?
Lactic acid bacteria, also known as lactic ferments, are bacteria that produce lactic acid through fermentation, ie, by breaking down the sugars in food.
There are four main groups of lactic acid bacteria:
There’s also the leuconostoc genus (from the lactobacillus family).
Used for thousands of years for preserving food, lactic fermentation was actually only discovered in the 19th century, specifically in dairy products. That’s why, even though these amazing bacteria play a key role in many types of food processing (and many metabolic processes such as production of ATP in the body), they are referred to as ‘lactic’.
Lactic acid bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, are used to produce yogurt. When cultures are added to milk, the lactic ferments consume the sugars in the milk, in particular lactose, to produce lactic acid.
Lactic acid causes the milk to thicken, changing the consistency to that of yogurt, and generating acidity.
When bifidobacteria are used, it results in a product with a different taste and consistency for which the designation ‘yogurt’ cannot be used.
Lactic acid bacteria, along with rennet, are also central to the production of cheese. In fact, to make cheese, the milk needs to coagulate so that the ‘solid’ part can be recovered and the liquid part extracted. Either rennet or lactic acid bacteria are used for this purpose:
The use of lactic acid bacteria is not, however, restricted to yogurt and cheese production! These microorganisms are also integral to the production of lacto-fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut (1).
Here, vegetables are left to ferment in brine (a mixture of salt and water) in order for their naturally-present lactic acid bacteria to digest some of their sugars. This produces a tangy dish rich in natural lactic ferments which is excellent for the gut microbiota!
Lactic acid bacteria and sausage? Though it’s an unlikely combination, lacto-fermentation is actually an essential stage in the production of fermented sausage-type charcuterie.
Since lactic acid bacteria digest lactose to produce lactic acid, cheese has a lower lactose content than milk. That’s why many lactose-intolerant individuals are able to eat cheese, and sometimes even yogurt, without any problem – they have lactic acid bacteria to thank for that (2)!
It’s worth noting that hard cheeses like Comté contain even less lactose than soft cheeses, as the lactic acid bacteria consume even more lactose to produce a firm curd.
The human body contains billions of beneficial bacteria located in key positions: we now understand these as comprising distinct types of microbiota:
It’s the latter, in particular, which has been widely studied over the last several years. Gut microbiota health has been found to directly affect not only immune system quality but also mood (3-4).
It just so happens that this gut microbiota is comprised of, amongst others, lactic acid bacteria, which is why in general, probiotics are largely composed of lactic bacteria (5).
Indeed probiotics, today recognised for supporting normal gut microbiota function, therefore now include (6):
Many of these strains of bacteria are combined in the multi-strain probiotic supplement Full Spectrum Probiotic Formula.
Studies on lactic acid bacteria have actually found no risks associated with their consumption. The only potential side-effect is from excessive intake of lacto-fermented products which may produce a laxative effect due to over-stimulation of the digestive system by lactic acid bacteria.
Apart from that, long-term supplementation with probiotics should not cause any problems, though it’s usually advisable to limit it to three months’ duration to allow time for the gut microbiota to re-form on its own.
For more information on taking probiotics, check out our blog articles ‘How long should a course of probiotics last?‘ and ‘Probiotics: can you take them all the time?’.
References
1 Days
I am merely judging the delivery system, which was flawless. It wouldn't make any sense to comment on the efficacy of the supplements, since that is only possible on a statistical basis. Even if something doesn't improve, that doesn't have to mean that the supplement doesn't work, since one doesn't know how it might have worsened without the supplement and the opposite might also apply, since many symptoms are psychosomatic and the supplement might provide a placebo effect.
Roger De Backer
9 Days
Perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrick
11 Days
Magnesium and Zinc Orotate are top supplements. Highly recommend!
Kristjan
22 Days
Nothing to complain. Delivers everything fast, attentive to their regular customers. Best experience.
FABIO I.
25 Days
Possibility to enjoy a variety of high quality suppléments. Fast delivery Good packaging Clear information and website
Vov Oo
27 Days
Efficient ordering and delivery. Happy with products. I order fairly regularly. Reliable
Gill Lee
27 Days
Supersmart sell the best products and are effecient when it come to handling and dispatching orders. Also, their return and refund policies is very simple and easy for the customer. The creme on top is the return customer discounts. Keep up the good work.
ABDULQADER Jehad
31 Days
Prompt and reliable.
MIFSUD Joseph
37 Days
I don't use the word great; everything was OK; it is maybe too early to expect an effect of the supplements
STAEHLI C
44 Days
Well,It was yesterday I started using it but I can tell the supplement is working perfect,will definitely still give best comments once I'm done using it ...
ANTHONY Oluwaseun Ugwu
45 Days
Great products, fast delivery.
Nujood ALHADDAD
54 Days
Easy and quick
Derya Iren
54 Days
Quick delivery, big choice of supplements. Good quality.
Val
57 Days
Great vitamins at a great price! I buy Bacillus subtilis which I really can’t find anywhere else which is great for intestinal health. 5 stars to Supersmart Vitamins.
Loli Vaughan
59 Days
Easy way to order. Fast delivery. Transporter FedEx was very polite and called me 1 hour before delivery.
TAJC Katja