Probiotics have changed the way we think about nutrition.

For years, conversations about nutrition focused primarily on vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Today, there is growing interest in another fascinating area: the microorganisms that make up the human microbiome.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are used in foods and nutritional supplements. While microscopic, these organisms have become an exciting area of nutritional research and product development.

A New Frontier in Nutrition

What makes probiotics so fascinating is their complexity. Different microorganisms have different characteristics, and researchers continue to study the enormous variety of bacteria and other microorganisms found throughout the human body.

This has created an entirely new field of interest for nutritionists, scientists, and supplement formulators.

Instead of simply asking, “What vitamins and minerals should be in a formula?”, formulators can now explore another question:

“What role can beneficial microorganisms play in modern nutrition?”

The Challenge of Formulating Probiotics

From a formulator’s perspective, probiotics are especially interesting because you’re working with living microorganisms.

Temperature, moisture, oxygen, packaging, processing, and storage can all be important considerations when developing a probiotic product.

Creating a quality probiotic formula requires careful attention to the specific organisms selected and how they are maintained throughout the product’s shelf life.

The Future of Probiotic Nutrition

The probiotic category continues to evolve as scientists learn more about the microbiome and the incredible diversity of microorganisms associated with the human body.

For formulators, this represents an exciting frontier in nutritional science.

Probiotics may be microscopic, but the science surrounding them is anything but small.

As research continues, probiotics will remain one of the most fascinating areas of modern nutrition and nutritional formulation. Check back next month for more info about the amazing probiotic.