verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ If someone has disrupted their gut microbial balance, this is where a probiotic can be of benefit,” saysDr. Cresci. “But whether it’s really going to help and whether you’re taking the right one are the big questions out there.”

Probiotics may cause bloating and gas, as well as changes in your stool patterns — but these are all early indications that the product is working, Dr. Cresci says. If you don’t need a probiotics primer, you can skip to the next section. But if you’d like a refresher on exactly what probiotics do, we’ve got a nice little explainer for you. Probiotics are sold as supplements, which means they’re not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means companies can essentially throw whatever they want into a supplement and call it a probiotic. To keep yourself safe and make sure you’re getting the probiotics you really want, you’ll need to keep a keen eye on the labeling and read up on scientific studies and research reports to determine which probiotics have made positive outcomes on specific conditions. They have beneficial effects on your immunity, inflammation and cholesterol,” Dr. Cresci adds. “Go for probiotic foods first.” Take care of the bacteria you have with prebiotics

What’s inside?

An imbalance in your gut microbiome is believed to contribute to a number of health problems — and not just gastrointestinal issues, but immune dysfunction and infections as well. The microbe balance can be disrupted by diet, emotional and physical stress, and use of antibiotics, which destroy the good bacteria along with the bad.

In some cases, you could develop an allergic reaction, so it’s always important to pay close attention to the label of your probiotic products. Also, look for a probiotic that is encapsulated with a food source, such as inulin, so it has something to feed off of and remain viable while sitting on the shelf. Look for name-brand probiotics and read up on some research The probiotic industry is booming, but the benefits of probiotic products and the quantity of viable bacteria they contain can vary. So, instead of adding bacteria from an outside source, you might be better off consumingprebiotics, like fermentable fiber, which support your own beneficial bacteria. Good dietary sources of prebiotics include dried beans and other legumes, garlic, asparagus, onions, leeks, certain artichokes, green bananas, cold-boiled potatoes and wheat. Prebiotic supplements are available, as well.Pay close attention to the label and how your probiotics should be stored. Generally, you’d want to keep them refrigerated (and make sure the place you’re buying them from does the same). Heat can kill off the microorganisms in your probiotics if they’re not stored correctly. A general recommendation is to choose probiotic products with at least 1 billion colony-forming units and containing the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillusor Saccharomyces boulardii, some of the most researched probiotics. Even then, you may have to delve deeper, as each genus of bacteria encompasses numerous strains that produce different results.