Simply put, probiotics are food or beverages containing live microorganisms that provides benefits to our health when ingested (i.e. eaten or drank).

There are many different types of probiotics. The most common are:

• fermented milk (kefir, yogurt)

• fermented cheese (e.g. cheddar, parmesan)

• fermented vegetables (e.g. kimchi, sauerkraut)

• fermented tea or juice (e.g. kombucha, tibicos).

All living things require a good environment to survive & thrive. So, when our body is stressed (e.g. tired, weak, sick, or malnourished), the human body becomes a less favorable environment for many of the microorganisms that reside and keep our body healthy. This can change the population mix of these microorganisms and potentially create an imbalance. Probiotics typically replenish our gut with the necessary microorganisms to keep the balance or restore it when it has been disrupted. Aside from this, they also typically contain a good amount of dietary nutrients (sometimes in predigested form, thus making it easier for the body to absorb).

Related Topics

human microbiome

Not all probiotics are the created equal. Some are better-targeted for specific lifestyle or health conditions. Also, some are more potent than others. Generally. the potential effects of each type of probiotic greatly depends on 2 things.

• the probiotic's nutritional and live microbial content

• the person's current state of health