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Activia®
Digestive Health Dictionary
Digestive health issues are often both difficult to discuss and understand. Use the Digestive Health
Dictionary to get to know the different elements of your system.
Bacteria – microscopic organisms that have a simple, one-celled structure and live in a variety of environments,
including water, soil, plants and living bodies. There are billions of bacteria living naturally in the human
digestive system, some beneficial and some potentially disease-causing.
Bifidobacteria – a type of bacteria, some strains of which, when eaten, can help regulate the digestive system.
The Bifidus RegularisTM in Activia is a beneficial strain of Bifidobacteria that survives the passage through the
digestive tract.
Bifidus RegularisTM – a unique probiotic strain of bifidobacteria that was specifically selected by Dannon® to be
added to Activia. Activia is the only yogurt in the world that contains Bifidus Regularis. The scientific name for
Bifidus Regularis is Bifidobacterium Animalis DN-173 010.
Colon – an approximately 5-foot-long, muscular, tube-like organ that is part of the digestive system. It was long
believed that its only function is to extract water from food and store waste until elimination. But experts now
believe that the colon plays a part in the regulation of intestinal well-being, particularly through its complex
bacterial microflora and maintenance of intestinal balance. (The term is sometimes used interchangeably with
“large intestine.”)
Cultures – a colony of living microorganisms grown by humans for a specific purpose, for example, the cultures
of Bifidus RegularisTM that are grown for Activia.
Digestion – a process in which food is broken down and is absorbed (along with water) into the bloodstream.
Digestive system – the organs of the body that break down food, absorb its nutrients and eliminate waste.
These include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, pancreas, liver
and anus.
Fiber – the parts of fruits and vegetables that the body can’t digest and helps keep stool soft so it can pass more
easily through the colon.
Immune system – the bodily system that protects the body from foreign substances, cells and tissues that can
possibly be harmful.
Intestinal microflora – the billions of tiny organisms that naturally live in the digestive tract.
Intestinal transit – the movement of food through the digestive tract.
Intestines – the tube-like organs – the small intestine leads to the large intestine (colon) – that together extend
from the stomach to the rectum and are responsible for absorbing nutrients from food, passing waste and
providing a barrier against potentially harmful substances and microorganisms.
Microorganism – a general term for simple, one-celled organisms like bacteria.
Probiotics – literally meaning “for life,” this is a living organism that, when administered in adequate amounts,
confers a health benefit on its host. The Bifidus RegularisTM in Activia is a probiotic.
Stomach – organ between the esophagus and small intestine which aids in the digestion of food.