Yakult Promotes Healthy Human Digestive System

From Erda Khursyiah Basir This is the first of four features on Yakult, the probiotic dairy product that contains a special strain of 'good' bacteria, the lactobacillus casei Shirota. TOKYO, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- To many people, only the children should consume the 'cultured milk' drink available in the market to prevent them from having indigestion. However adults too need to have a good digestive system and are recommended to consume this cultured milk drink. Realising the importance of promoting health among Malaysians, Yakult (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd recently organised a media familiarisation visit to Japan. The visit themed 'Healthy Intestine, Long Life' is held to promote awareness on probiotics in the Yakult fermented milk drink. Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. WHAT IS YAKULT? Yakult came about in 1930 when Dr Minoru Shirota of Kyoto University's Medical Faculty discovered a special type of good bacteria, the 'Lactobacillus casei Shirota' (also called Shirota strain), which is the main ingredient of probiotics. The Shirota strain has been scientifically proven to be among the most beneficial bacteria for human digestive system. "Yakult drink contains more than 30 billion good bacteria per bottle and there is no (artificial) colourings, preservatives, conditioners and stabilisers used to produce the drink. "All the ingredients (used) are of high quality and selected from around the world while the 'lactobacillus casei Shirota' strain is obtained from the mother cultured in Japan," Yakult Malaysia Sales and Marketing director Hiroshi Hamada told the media representatives. YAKULT IN MALAYSIA The Yakult factory in Malaysia is built in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan in 2004 and produces 9.9 million bottles of the Yakult drinks per month. Sold in packs of five, the 80ml bottles consist two types of Yakult drinks, that is Yakult Ace dan Yakult Ace Lights (which contains less sugar). Hamada says Yakult sales stands at about 370,000 bottles per day in Malaysia. "Yakult is the second most popular cultured milk drink after 'Vitagen' as the former was only introduced in Malaysia about 10 years ago. "We are also actively carrying out activities through the Yakult Lady, who runs awareness campaign activities in supermarkets throughout Malaysia, to reach out and get close to our customers," says Hamada. Yakult Lady plays an important role to reach the customers in rural areas especially in delivering information on the benefits of Yakult, while Yakult members will organise activities such as health talks on how to maintain healthy life by consuming the Yakult drink. WORKING VISIT The visit by the Malaysian entourage who included celebrity Diana Amir and popular fitness instructor/nutritionist Kevin Zahri was aimed at providing the opportunity for the media to explore and learn about various aspects of probiotics including the latest applications for human health. "Through the visit we hope people understand about the practical usage of probiotics in the medical and nutritional fields, especially on gut flora and the immune system presented by researchers from Yakult. "We also hope people understand the concept of food and nutrition education implemented by the Japan government and how it is beneficial for the health of the Japanese," he told Bernama during the visit. Hamada says the visit also give a picture on Japanese government's commitment towards creating a healthy nation via food and nutrition education ('Shokuiku') and food for special health purposes ('Foshu'). The trip to Japan include visits to Yakult Fuji Susono factory (near Mount Fuji) and Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research. YAKULT PRODUCTS IN JAPAN In Japan, there are varieties of Yakult products and it is not only limited to cultured milk drink. The products are presented in the forms of soft drinks, yogurt, pharmaceuticals products and even cosmetics! Naomi Arima from Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research says the Yakult main products in Japan consist beneficial bacteria and functional beverages. "Products with beneficial bacteria include fermented milk drinks (Yakult, Yakult 400, Yakult 400LT, Yakult Calorie Half, Yakult SHEs and Yakult Ace) fermented milk (Mil-Mil and Mil-Mil S) and drinkable, hard and soft type yogurt (Joie, Joie yogurt, Soful and Soful Genki yogurt). "There is also a product named 'BF-1' that use B. bifidum strain BF-1 which is suitable for keeping a healthy stomach," she said. As the people in Japan today are more health-conscious, Yakult has also produced functional beverages such as Ayamurasaki, Toughman, Soy Milk, Kurosu and Bansoreicha which specified health food for people with borderline blood glucose levels. Not only that, Naomi says Yakult also produces cosmetic (Yakult Parabio, Revecy White and Revecy) and pharmaceutical products for skin care which the ingredients extracted from the fermentation of lactic acid bacteria. BENEFITS FROM THE VISIT During the eight-day visit which began Oct 6, participants had learnt about various aspects of probiotics including the latest applications in human health. Apart from the visit, the participants also attended a seminar on Food for Specified Health Uses (Foshu System), Natural Killer cell activation by Shirota strain and Food and Nutrition Education (Shokuiku) for Adults to the Elderly. There was also a session with an International Beauty Specialist, Minako Yamamoto, who shares her views on the relationship between beautiful skin and intestinal bacteria. "Intake of probiotics bring the benefit of improving the conditions within one's intestines by maintaining a proper balance of the intestinal flora which can be upset by such factors as ageing and negative lifestyle habits," said Minako. Another highlight of the visit was the tour at Yakult Fuji Susono factory and Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research to see how Yakult was processed from raw ingredients, and to see how research and development of materials for food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics of Yakult are doing. Participants also joined the Yakult Lady to deliver Yakult from home-to-home by riding the bicycle in Mizue, a small town in Tokyo. "We hope that more people will be aware and become more proactive in taking care of their health by consuming Yakult which can help them to have healthy intestine apart from boosting the immune system and also preventing diseases due to the good bacteria in this product," adds Hamada. -- BERNAMA