March 2, 2012

Bacterially Enhanced Babies!

Scientists in the University of Illinois have found a new prebiotic formula for infants that help boost immunity. Adding the prebiotic ingredients are put into infant formula and fed to them. "The beneficial bacteria that live in a baby's intestine are all-important to an infant's health, growth, and ability to fight off infections," said Kelly Tappenden, a gastrointestinal professor at the University of Illinois. Collecting and testing fecal matter from both infants exposed to the prebiotics and those without show significantly. Probiotics are live bacteria that help when living in our intestines. They are carbohydrates that resist digestion which simulate growth and beneficial activity in the gastrointestinal tracts.




This is interesting because usually bacteria are pinned with a negative connotation. Bacteria are germs and must be killed. Sanitizing is a main priority to many, especially after the Swine flu epidemic of 2009. But this article and research shows that some strains of bacteria are actually very helpful to humans. The infants fed with the prebiotic ingredients showed remarkably better immune systems compared to the ones not given the formula. Maybe the cure to several fatal diseases such as cancer has a bacteria that can eliminate it. Only further research will prove this. 

8 comments:

KTress said...

This is really interesting! I never knew that babies relied on bacteria in their stomachs in order to grow and develop!

Shan said...

This is really cool, I didn't know bacteria was actually helpful for babies in terms of growth and development. Bacteria does have a bad connotation all around.

Jack said...

when I here bacteria I cringe, they do have a bad rep

enkaysaini said...

wow would you look at this bacteria helping baby growth awesomee

acavz said...

At first i thought bacteria was bad, but i guess if its helping babies its not so bad after all.

Jenai said...

This is crazy!! Things that you think are bad actually are beneficial.

vas said...

I never would've thought that bacteria would be beneficial.. especially in babies!

Fariha said...

This is great! This will help mothers of newborns feel less worried about their babies getting sick