Probiotics are something you might have heard about, but perhaps you are not quite sure what they are. Is it medication like antibiotics? Do you eat them, or do they come in a cream?
According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s only been since about the mid-1990s that people have wanted to know more about probiotics and their health benefits.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits. Products sold as probiotics include foods such as yogurt, dietary supplements, and products such as skin creams.
We often think of bacteria and other microorganisms as harmful “germs”; however, many microorganisms help our bodies function properly. For example, bacteria that are normally present in our intestines help digest food, destroy disease-causing microorganisms, and produce vitamins.
According to the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there’s preliminary evidence that some probiotics are helpful in preventing diarrhea caused by infections and antibiotics and in improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, but more needs to be learned. It is still not known which probiotics are helpful and which are not. It is also not known how much of the probiotic people would have to take or who would most likely benefit from taking probiotics.
If you are considering using probiotics for a medical condition instead of other proven methods, it’s important to talk to your doctor first.
