Probiotic Supplements

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that live in your body, ensuring your gut and overall health stay in tip-top shape. Bacteria is often associated with disease, but in reality, your body is full of both good and bad bacteria. Probiotics are good bacteria and help you maintain a healthy gut.

While probiotics are naturally found in the body, some medications (especially antibiotics) can disrupt the balance of good bacteria, as antibiotics can’t distinguish between good and bad bacteria within your gut. So, it is often recommended to use probiotic supplements after a course of antibiotics to get your health back on track.

What to look for in Probiotic Supplements

With so many probiotic supplements available, figuring out which is best for you can be challenging. While it’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor first, here are a few things to consider when buying probiotics:

• Colony-forming units (or the number of bacteria per dose): Your probiotic supplements should have at least 1 billion colony-forming units. You can check the packaging or product information to double-check.
• Types of bacterial strains: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, or Saccharomyces boulardii are some of the most researched probiotics and should be your first choice for supplements.
• How you store your probiotics: Heat can damage the bacteria, so if you are purchasing fridge stored probiotics, you want to keep them refrigerated and ensure the store you’re buying them from is doing the same. Some companies have developed shelf stable probiotics and bottles, which can be a good option, especially for people who have trouble remembering to take them.