Fix it with a pill? Not so fast

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: PROBIOTICS 'MAY NOT BE THE MIRACLE CURE THEY'RE MARKETED TO BE'

- Hein Kaiser

Fix it with a pill. It's become easy to pop a pill or a supplement and expect that miracles occur. Probiotics, essential for gut health, have become a popular wellness trend and, of course, there's a capsule or a tablet to satisfy same.

But a few hundred years ago, nobody popped a pill to supplement their health; they just ate better. It's an argument that's reared again, because a balanced fibre-rich diet may already do the trick.

According to Dr Barbara Makumbi, a gastroenterologist at Netcare Sunward Park Hospital, while probiotics can support good gut health, diet has the starring role.

"Probiotics are live organisms, mainly bacteria, that are consumed for their health benefits," she said.

"They temporarily colonise the gut lining and contribute to a healthy gut microbiome by nurturing beneficial microorganisms, inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, and improving intestinal transit."

Probiotics are found in fermented foods like yoghurt and kefir, which contain live cultures. A balanced, fibre-rich diet remains first prize for overall well-being.

"The benefits of probiotics are often overstated in the wellness community," she said.