Probiotics are live microorganisms—beneficial bacteria—that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, have been proven to provide health benefits beyond what basic nutrition provides. Probiotic is Latin for “good for life.” We all have naturally-occurring probiotic bacteria communities in our digestive systems, where they help to keep the digestive system functioning well. They:
Protect the body from harmful bacteria
Exercise the immune system, to ensure it is ready to react to harmful bacteria
Strengthen the intestinal wall, so it can act as a defensive barrier
Digest fiber in our diet, so we can absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat
For people who have digestive problems, adding more probiotic bacteria, by consuming live cultures, has been shown to have beneficial effects. There are different strains of live cultures (a.k.a. live active cultures). While numerous products are labeled as having “live cultures,” not all live cultures are probiotic. They must be able to reach the intestine alive, and in sufficient quantities, to have a beneficial (probiotic) effect.
There are no known side effects of probiotics. When consumed, they gradually become part of the healthy bacteria that normally live in the digestive system.
Imagine: millions of beneficial bacteria living in
a chocolate bar. Eating chocolate every day now
truly is good for you!
The company notes that some people may notice minor intestinal discomfort for the first few days when adding Attune wellness bars to their diet, a normal result of the rebalancing in the intestinal environment, that should subside in a few days. We (who have no digestive problems in the first place) ate all eight flavors in three days, tasting them for this article, with no ill effects.
Read more about probiotics in our dedicated article on the topic.
