LifeStyle Health:  Living in a country like India which is home to one fifth of the world's population, one cannot help but worry about the state of health and nutrition in the country. According to data on nutrition, despite economic growth during the last few years in India, 14 per cent of India's population is undernourished, writes Neerja Hajela.

There is no quick fix to this alarming problem. It would just mean looking at health and nutrition in a more holistic manner to ensure better quality and quantity of food and a healthy lifestyle. However, nutrition loses its meaning if the food that we eat is not being taken up by the body. Therefore, getting the best from the food we eat is only possible if the intestine is healthy.

The importance of intestinal health has also entered scientific discourse with the realisation that the intestine is the largest immune organ and the health of the intestine depends on these bacteria which are indispensable for its function. They have the magical power of determining intestinal health, and therefore ensuring that the good bacteria are in higher numbers, is critical for a well-functioning intestine.

Probiotic foods are specifically designed to increase the good bacteria in the intestine and keep it healthy. Consumption of some probiotic foods have been associated with absorption of micronutrients like calcium and iron from ingested foods. Interestingly, studies conducted on children and young women in India showed that the iron status improved significantly by intake of a milk fortified with probiotics and prebiotics.

Granny’s Treat promoted by AVM Food Specialties based in Indore is an emerging fermented milk drink Brand considered to have added with live active bacteria which are most natural or regular contains billions of probiotic (friendly) bacteria such as Streptococcus thermophillus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacteriumlactis , Lactobacillus  casei which are beneficial for human health. Studies have shown that regular consumption of probiotics helps to restore the imbalance of the intestinal micorflora which in turn leads to the strengthening of body’s natural defense mechanism.  

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LIFESTYLE- FOOD: Probiotics, Fermented Dairy Products