Probiotic Cultured Milk Drink Relieves Constipation Symptoms

Constipation Symptoms

What causes constipation? Constipation is a result of an imbalanced gut microflora (gut environment), that happens when the gut hosts more harmful bacteria than beneficial bacteria. Watch out, this occurs because of poor dietary and lifestyle habits, certain medications like antibiotics, ageing or stress.

But am I truly constipated?

Check for these symptoms to help you rule out an episode of constipation:

• Not having any bowel movements for several days or passing stools lesser than 3 times in a week.

• Faeces can be small, hard and lumpy which requires straining while pooping. Sometimes, it can be a painful experience.

• Feelings of incomplete defecation.

• Loss of appetite.

• Nausea.

If your child has constipation, you may observe:

• Grinding of the teeth, crossed legs, clenched buttocks and a flushed face due to straining while struggling to pass a bowel motion.

• Faecal stains in your child’s underwear.

What are probiotics?

“It is good if you can include probiotics into your daily routine as it can naturally cleanse your gut!” What are probiotics? Cleanse our guts? How? Probiotics are good bacteria that help to improve digestion problems and gut functions. Our gut is the largest immune organ in the body.

“Are we eating bacteria? Is it safe” Do not worry! Probiotics were recognised by the Ministry of Health Malaysia in April 2017 and since then, various probiotic products including dairy products such as cultured milk drinks and yoghurts have been introduced to the market. However, does the product in your fridge really contain probiotics?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits to our body when consumed in adequate amounts. It may be found in some of our favourite foods that are undergo the process of fermentation such as tempeh, tapai, kimchi, natto, beverage products and supplements.

Guidelines on how to choose the right probiotic products

The use of probiotics was gazetted under The Food Regulations 1985 to protect consumer rights. The Food Regulations 1985 provides a legal definition of probiotics and regulates the types of live cultures or beneficial bacteria that can be used as probiotics by food manufacturers. The regulation clearly points out the genuine probiotic-containing products.

Let’s follow tips from Dr. Tee Ee Siong, the Chairman of the Probiotics Education Program under the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM PEP) on how to choose the right probiotic products in the market.

1. Ensure the product is approved by the Ministry of Health (MoH)

Only specific bacterial strains that have been recognised and approved by the MoH may be added into foods and beverages. Under The Food Regulations 1985, there are 32 probiotics strains permitted to be added into foods and beverages by food manufacturers. When you are buying a probiotic product, it is important to read the label and check for the word “probiotic” to identify if the product is genuine.

2. Ensure the product contains “live organisms”

It is always a good idea to read the label of your probiotic products. We need to ensure the product labels “live cultures” or contain “live microorganisms” on the packaging. By definition, probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits to our body, and thus it is critical to ensure that the probiotic products you buy are genuine and safe to consume and meet the requirements of The Food Regulations 1985.

3. The product should contain adequate amounts of live bacteria

For a product to be considered a probiotic product, the minimum probiotic count in a probiotic product should be at least 10⁶ CFU/g or CFU/ml. The number of viable probiotic cultures are measured in colony forming units (CFU) which indicate the number of bacterial cells in the product.

Based on the graphic above, for example, cultured milk drink Yakult or specifically known as Shirota strain probiotic drink contains 30 × 10⁹ CFU/ml, which means this product contains over 30 billion of live beneficial bacteria Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota strain in each bottle.

You can find all the information above on the product packaging of Yakult, whether you buy the Yakult products from the supermarket, Yakult Lady or your favourite e-commerce sites.

The benefits of Shirota probiotic strain

Naturally, the human body contains trillions of microorganisms that consist of good and bad bacteria which live in our gut. The trillions of microorganisms residing in our gut are collectively known as the gut microbiota. A healthy gut microbiota has a greater ratio of good bacteria compared to the number of bad bacteria. Most bacteria in the body are useful, but they may become harmful when out of balance.

However, various factors such as prolonged stress, unhealthy eating, ageing, infections and intake of antibiotics or other medications may disrupt the delicate balance of the gut microbiota. When bacteria in your gut becomes imbalanced, you are likely to experience gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and fatigue.

1. Increases the number of good bacteria and reduces the bad bacteria

Our gut is home to a diverse community that consists of good and bad bacteria. Taking probiotics may help build and restore the good bacteria in our gut and help to eliminate bad bacteria, which subsequently balance the gut bacteria.

2. Helps to reduce toxin production

By consuming probiotic products, bad bacteria can be reduced in the gut, which can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and the toxins produced by them.

3. Improves our digestion

When your gut microbiome is out of balance, you may be more likely to have digestive problems like constipation and diarrhoea.

Constipation is a symptom when bowel movements become less frequent – less than once in three days, and stools become difficult to pass. There is substantial scientific evidence to support the use of Shirota probiotic strain that is effective to soften the stools and improve gut movement.

Diarrhoea is a symptom where you experience frequent, loose and watery stools than usual. Diarrhoea usually happens because of bacterial infections, food allergies, or as side effects from medications like antibiotics. Taking probiotics may help prevent and treat symptoms of diarrhoea by restoring the balance of bacteria within the intestinal tract.

4. A strong gut boosts our immune system

Our gut is not only a part of our digestive system, it also plays a crucial role in the immune system. Did you know that 80% of our immune system is found in the gut? Maintaining our gut health and regular intake of probiotic products are important to strengthen our gut, so it will have optimal immune function to protect you against bacterial and viral infections.

Constipation remedies

Thankfully, constipation can be dealt with at home by ensuring adequate hydration and plenty of fibres in daily meals. You could also visit the pharmacy for relief if your symptom worsens. However, relying on medications as a long-term plan is probably not the best idea to manage constipation. Take a look at these constipation remedies to smooth out your bowels.

1. Constipation remedies for children

• Introduce prune, apple or pear juice to their diet.

• Boost hydration with plain water.

• Take a break from foods that may worsen constipation such as milk or cheese for a while.

• Serve more fruits and vegetables in their meals.

• Encourage physical activities like running or walking with your child to improve their intestinal motility.

• Have a go at the toilet after meals as a routine. Avoid making it a habit to ignore the urge to poo, especially when they are carried away with playtime.

2. Constipation remedies for the elderly

• Walking is a great way to add some movement to the day-to-day routine.

• Visit the toilet immediately when feeling the urge to poo.

• Enjoy fibrous foods like potatoes, bananas, cauliflowers, peas, cabbages, salad, apples and carrots.

• Add up more fibres from fruits and vegetables to the diet like salads and ulam.

• Increase fluid intake from plain water and fruit juices.

• Be mindful of laxatives because overusing them can disrupt the digestive system.

3. Constipation remedies for pregnant mothers

Constipation is a common occurrence among expecting mothers due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. The rise of progesterone at this phase induces muscle contractions in the body, including the digestive tract. Dear mothers-to-be, try these tips for a breezy pregnancy poo time:

• Aim to drink 12 glasses of plain water daily to lock in adequate hydration for the body. Prune or lemon juice can do wonders for your bowel too.

• 20 to 30 minutes, thrice a week! Stay active with light exercises suitable to each trimester to improve bowel movement and reduce constipation.

• Eat balanced and nutritious meals throughout pregnancy to nourish your baby and you.

• Achieve extra fibre intake from fruits and vegetables every day.

Probiotics are proven to relieve constipation

Combine these constipation remedies with fermented food consumption like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha or probiotic cultured milk drinks such as Yakult to deal with your difficult poo. Wonder less, these foods share a secret ingredient – good bacteria!

It is a simple concept to grasp. These good bacteria reach your intestines alive and multiply to balance the gut microflora, which contributes to constipation relief. Their presence strengthens the gut function and our body’s immunity, while reducing bloating.

Packed with 30 billion of Shirota strain in a bottle, Yakult probiotic drinks are proven to maintain balance of our gut microflora and reduce constipation problems. Here’s a fun fact: the Shirota strain is a type of lactic acid bacteria. Its powerful by-product, lactic acid, plays a vital role in gut health. It creates an acidic gut environment that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. Moreover, it is capable of softening stools so that they could pass easily.

No doubt, probiotics are worth a try if you wish to have a smooth toilet experience.

When is the best time to drink Shirota strain probiotic drink? 

The answer is anytime! Anytime of the day is a good time to drink Yakult!

Some good bacteria in our gut can be eliminated during the process of bowel movement. Therefore, consuming probiotic products regularly is important to ensure the good bacteria in our gut keeps changing and stays on track.

All in all, it is great to add Yakult into your daily routine at a time that is convenient for you as it is quick and easy. To get the most out of Yakult’s benefits, drink at least once a day. Have you taken Yakult today?

Is Shirota probiotic strain good for kids?

It is a simple fact that kids are more prone to infections because their immune systems are still developing. Childhood is a vital period to develop a healthy gut and strong immune system to keep children healthy and active.

Shirota probiotic strain is generally considered safe for kids aged 1 year of above. It is recommended to drink one bottle a day for children as Yakult is a probiotic in the form of a cultured milk drink, not a thirst-quencher.

If you are concerned with the sugar content in each little bottle of Yakult, sugar plays an important role in Yakult as the food source to keep the 30 billion Shirota probiotic strain alive, in order to improve gut function. Sugar is also needed to balance the sour taste of lactic acid produced by Shirota probiotic strain. Otherwise, you can choose Yakult Ace Light as it is a lighter version with lesser sugar and calories but with the same great taste.

Again, you can practice eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, exercise, manage stress levels and add probiotics such as Shirota probiotic drink in your daily routine to ensure our gut microbiota is in the optimum levels.

Go get your Yakult now!