Friends who often drink probiotic drinks know that these drinks are not only delicious but also can "lose weight". But is this really the case? Let's explore the truth about probiotics and weight loss.
I. What are probiotics?
Probiotics are a group of beneficial active microorganisms that can improve the host's microbial ecological balance and have beneficial effects on the host's health. They are colonized in the human intestinal and reproductive systems.
II. Research on probiotic drinks
1. Lactic acid drinks may not contain bacteria
Whether there are bacteria, what kind of bacteria, and the activity of the bacteria are all key conditions that determine whether the lactic acid drinks in your hands can benefit the body. What? Do I have to learn so much just to drink a bottle of beverage? Can't I just look at the packaging?
To cater to consumer demand, various brands have started the "battle of bacteria". Not only do they have a bunch of dazzling names of bacteria on the packaging, some even directly promote their health benefits, such as regulating intestinal flora and enhancing immunity. With a big wave of the hand, the price of these drinks often reaches several times that of regular products.
In fact, lactic acid bacteria and probiotics are not the same thing, but they are often confused. Lactic acid bacteria are a general term for bacteria that can ferment carbohydrates to produce more than 50% lactic acid; probiotics have a broader definition and refer to live bacteria that can improve the balance of microorganisms in the body and benefit the host. There are hundreds of probiotic strains, and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture has approved the use of 16 microbial species, including 11 strains of lactic acid bacteria. The commonly used ones in domestic market are lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and lactobacillus acidophilus.
2. Having bacteria does not mean they are alive
Active lactic acid drinks are not subjected to high-temperature sterilization and generally need to be refrigerated at 2-8℃. Lactic acid bacteria are very delicate, and to maintain their activity, refrigeration conditions must be maintained from the factory to the hands of consumers. Otherwise, even if they are exposed to room temperature for a short time or placed on semi-open shelves, lactic acid bacteria will lose their activity. What you eat may be a bunch of useless "dead bacteria".
Once the lactic acid drinks leave the production line, the active lactic acid bacteria inside will gradually decline. Low-temperature refrigeration can effectively delay the death rate of live bacteria and ensure the number of live bacteria in the product. Sometimes, we may see some supermarkets place refrigerated lactic acid drinks at room temperature for promotion. Drinking such drinks is futile.
3. Having live bacteria does not necessarily mean they are effective
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated "probiotic" products in the European market. They found that the data submitted by probiotic companies to support their claims were not representative and lacked evidence to prove the health benefits of their products. The EFSA believes that "probiotics" are not scientifically proven. The EU quality inspection agency refuted more than 800 claims about these probiotics enhancing the body's natural resistance and reducing gastrointestinal diseases, believing that these claims either are too general or cannot be scientifically proven.
III. Can probiotic drinks help with weight loss?
Probiotic drinks do have many benefits, but there is no direct evidence that any of them can help with weight loss. The widely spread "intestinal flora theory" on the Internet has also been proven to be incorrect. In addition, the illusion that probiotic drinks can help with weight loss is often based on the claim of "0 fat".
A 435ml bottle of a certain brand of lactic acid drink may not contain fat, but it contains a staggering 70 grams of sugar (about 15 sugar cubes).
Although adding sugar is to ensure taste, major manufacturers have abandoned "prebiotics" that are beneficial to the human body and have better effects, and have chosen cheap white sugar. Regularly consuming such high-sugar and high-calorie drinks is not conducive to weight loss.
