It’s no secret that many of us are stopped up. In fact, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about 42 million Americans are chronically constipated, making this one of the most common gastrointestinal problems in the United States.

Digestive health is important to consumers. In a U.S. survey, 61 percent of consumers reported concern about maintaining digestive health and 43 percent were actively looking for products with natural ingredients to support that goal.

Babies are born with an immature immune system and a nearly sterile gut. Programming of their systemic immunity begins soon after birth and is strongly influenced by the multitude of bacteria that colonize the gut in their first days and weeks to form the body’s microbiota.

The large intestine, or colon, is the site of several unique functions in the body. Sitting at the terminal end of the digestive tract, the colon employs its large surface area – 300 square meters or about the size of a tennis court – to absorb water and concentrate food residue into feces.