What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms (microbes) that can have beneficial effects on or inside your body. Every human body is home to trillions of microorganisms that live with us and help support our bodily functions and health. Not all of the microbes we may carry are helpful to us — some types (germs) can be harmful. But beneficial microbes, like probiotics, help to control the potentially harmful types.
Probiotic products contain select, beneficial types of microbes to add to the populations already living in your body. Many probiotics are oral supplements designed to be ingested into your gastrointestinal tract. Others are topical products that you can apply to your skin or to the mucous membranes inside your body cavities, like your nose or genitals. These are all places where beneficial microbes commonly live.
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What do probiotics do?
Probiotics are food and health products that contribute live, beneficial microbes to the populations within your gut and elsewhere, in order to strengthen those communities. They’re meant to prevent and treat dysbiosis — an imbalance or a deficit of beneficial microbes in your microbiome. When they work, the microbes take up residence on or in your body, adding to the populations already living there.
Not all probiotics are alike, though. Different types of microbes function differently within your body, so different types might be better or worse for your condition. Probiotics also aren’t regulated by the FDA, so manufacturers don’t have to prove the quality or even the contents of their products. It’s a good idea to consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider about which probiotics might work best for your needs.
When are probiotics recommended?
If you have symptoms of dysbiosis, in your digestive system or elsewhere, your healthcare provider might recommend probiotics to help bring your microbiome back to balance. If you’ve recently had an illness or treatment that weakened your microbiome, your provider might suggest probiotics to help rebuild it. For example, they might suggest taking or using probiotics after finishing a course of antibiotics.
Some people take a daily probiotic supplement to maintain their general wellness. You might want to do this if you’re prone to gut health issues and you notice it helps. A healthy gut microbiome can boost your overall immunity, reduce inflammation and help keep your bowels regular. Everyday things like stress and food choices can diminish your gut microbiome, and probiotics are one way to help restore it.
Which probiotics are effective?
For a probiotic to have any benefit to your health, it must:
- Be of a variety that has proven benefits for your body.
- Be in a form that’s safe to consume or apply to your body.
- Contain viable microbes that have survived the commercial process.
- Be able to survive the journey through your digestive tract (if it’s an oral probiotic).
Some of the most frequently studied and recommended probiotics include:
- The Lactobacillus genus, including L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. casei and L. plantarum.
- The Bifidobacterium genus, including Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium breve.
Acidophilus (L. acidophilus) may be the most well-known probiotic on the market today, possibly because it has so many different applications. Acidophilus is found naturally in your mouth, gut, stomach, lungs, vagin* and urinary tract, and it can help restore balance in all of these microbiomes.
These products are all available over the counter (OTC), in grocery stores, drug stores and health and wellness stores. They come as dietary supplements (capsules, liquids or powders) or as topical lotions or creams for different uses. Your healthcare provider can help you select a good one to try for your needs.
You can also get probiotics in less concentrated quantities from fermented foods and drinks, including:
Fermented foods and drinks are one way to get more probiotics into your GI tract. Food processing can sometimes destroy these natural probiotics, though, so check the labels for “live and active cultures”.
FAQs
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that have beneficial effects on your body. These species already live in your body, along with many others. Probiotic supplements add to your existing supply of friendly microbes. They help fight off the less friendly types and boost your immunity against infections.
What are probiotics and what do they do? ›
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. We usually think of these as germs that cause diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.
What are the 2 most important probiotics? ›
Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species are the most commonly used probiotics.
Why do cardiologists warn against probiotics? ›
But, when it comes to pre-and probiotics, cardiologists are warning they aren't a treatment for elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, or other heart health markers. The health benefits of probiotics are also strain-specific, so taking any probiotic off the shelf won't guarantee results.
How do you know if you need a probiotic? ›
Brain fog, Abdominal pain, Chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, Mood disturbances, depression, or anxiety can all be signs you may need probiotics. Probiotics help balance the friendly bacteria in your digestive system.
What shouldn't I take with probiotics? ›
Some medications that may interact with certain probiotics include: antibiotics, antifungals (such as clotrimazole, ketoconazole, griseofulvin, nystatin).
What happens when you take probiotics every day? ›
Many people take probiotics to help relieve diarrhea, constipation or stomach pain. Over the long term, probiotics should improve your overall gut health, including your bowel regularity and digestion, reducing discomfort.
What is the #1 probiotic? ›
Summary: Compare the Best Probiotic Supplements of 2024
| Product | Forbes Health Ratings | View More |
|---|
| Culturelle Pro Strength Daily Probiotics | 4.6 | Shop Now |
| Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus EPS | 4.5 | Shop Now |
| Jarrow Formulas Fem-Dophilus | 4.4 | Shop Now |
| BetterLife PrePro+ | 3.6 | View More |
3 more rowsA general recommendation is to choose probiotic products with at least 1 billion colony-forming units and containing the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus or Saccharomyces boulardii, some of the most researched probiotics.
Is there a downside to taking probiotics? ›
Possible harmful effects of probiotics include infections, production of harmful substances by the probiotic microorganisms, and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from probiotic microorganisms to other microorganisms in the digestive tract.
Some have been well studied, and some haven't. One theoretical risk of probiotics is if someone has an immune system weakened by illness or medication, that person could get sick from probiotics. Another concern about probiotics is that they're considered dietary supplements, not drugs.
What is the new warning about probiotics? ›
The FDA is aware that certain probiotic products used in hospital settings to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis have contributed to invasive disease, including one infant death in 2023, and have been associated with more than two dozen other reported adverse events in the United States since 2018.
Is oatmeal good for gut health? ›
Oatmeal is good for your gut.
Oats are a prebiotic food and the beta-glucan fiber helps feed the good bacteria. The fiber helps to keep you full for hours by slowing down digestion AND contributes to keeping bowel movements regular. A healthy gut decreases the risk for disease and inflammation.
What happens if you take probiotics when you don t need them? ›
If you're eating a healthy diet, you will support the good bacteria in your body through the foods you eat. Also, taking supplements when you don't need them could upset the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut, leaving you feeling sick. Other times, some type of probiotic is needed to feel better.
Should I take probiotics in the morning or at night? ›
While the time of day is ultimately up to you, probiotics may be most effective if you plan to take them about 30 minutes before a meal — and most effective if you take your supplement before breakfast.
Who needs probiotics the most? ›
Research has yet to show who is most likely to benefit from adding probiotic foods or taking supplements. Doctors are most likely to suggest them if you have a digestive problem or if you've had an illness or taken medications, such as antibiotics, that might upset your microbiome.
Is it better to take a prebiotic or probiotic? ›
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, and prebiotics is food for these bacteria. Eating foods or supplements containing both can help balance your gut bacteria.
Is it worth taking probiotics? ›
Probiotics are thought to help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut (including your stomach and intestines) when it's been disrupted by an illness or treatment. There's some evidence that probiotics may be helpful in some cases, such as helping to ease some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
