Potential non-dairy probiotic products - A healthy approach

The consumer demand has changed from energy providing diet to the diet with balanced nutrient profile along with metabolic, physiological, health and functional benefits. Probiotics, neutraceutical and functional foods belong to such diet category. Probiotics are selective viable micro-organisms administered in adequate amount to confer health benefits beyond inherent general nutrition. These microorganisms have various health promoting functions like prevents intestinal tract infections, improves lactose metabolism, reduces serum cholesterol level, enhance immunity, stimulates calcium absorption, improves protein digestibility, synthesis of vitamins (vitamin B, nicotinic acid and folic acid), and counteracts the effects of food-borne pathogens. For wider distribution and acceptability, probiotic must be low cost, convenient and viable during the processing, storage and consumption. Consumer health consideration from the perspective of cholesterol in probiotic dairy products for the developed countries and economic reasons for the developing countries has diverted research towards non-dairy based probiotics. This has led to development of rapidly emerging cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables based non-dairy probiotics. These alternative sources are cheaper in cost, possess more phytochemicals and can reduce the risk of cholesterol problems in lactose intolerance people.