You may have been noticing an increase in people talking about probiotics either in the media, in articles, or in advertisements for food or their packaging promoting the presence of probiotics. Probiotics are being hyped as a cure all for everything from psoriasis to ulcers, which can of course lead us to find ourselves wondering whether or not they actually work. Probiotics are available at pretty much every grocery store, pharmacy, and health store, but the price of a bottle can end up being fairly steep depending on the brand. For this reason, it is worth looking more deeply into what the research shows and what probiotics actually are and what they do.
First off, it will be helpful to define what probiotics actually are. According to experts, probiotics are made up of good bacteria and yeast that occur naturally in the body. Most of these beneficial bacterias live in the gut, but they can also be found in other areas of the body.
Additionally, probiotics aren’t just supplements you purchase, as they are found naturally in many different foods. Most experts all agree that eating probiotic rich foods will instead be better than supplements. However, in the event of a serious illness where the bad bacteria has taken over in your gut, food might not be enough and supplements may be beneficial on a short term basis.
If you and your physician decide that a probiotic supplement is the right course of action, then consult with them to determine the right supplement to match your health condition.