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.

The colon is the largest participant in the body’s immune system. Nearly sterile when a baby is born, the gut quickly is colonized by a multitude of bacteria that make up its microbiota.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate, more than doubling between 1980 and 2014. According to the World Health Organization, at least 1.9 billion adults and 42 million young children worldwide are overweight or obese

Osteoporosis affects approximately 54 million Americans, is responsible for 2 million broken bones, and accrues annual costs of $19 billion (NOF, 2015). It is estimated that half of women and a quarter of men 50 years and older will experience an osteoporosis-related bone break.

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing dramatically and the disease has become a global health problem. Worldwide, 387 million people have diabetes, 8.3 percent of the world population, and prevalence is expected to rise to 592 million by 2035 (International Diabetes Federation, 2014).

Microflora Microorganisms, primarily bacteria, living on the surface and in the orifices of the body. The microflora in the large intestine also is called the gut flora.