What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria and microorganisms that naturally live in your body. There are two types of bacteria- good and bad. Probiotics represent the good bacteria (main type of bacteria are- Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) and yeasts (most common type is Saccharomyces boulardii). 

There are several scientific pieces of evidence suggesting that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria. Potential benefits of probiotics have been approved as treatment or prevention from the following diseases:

● diarrhea
● irritable bowel syndrome
● ulcerative colitis
● Crohn's disease
● vaginal infections
● urinary tract infections
● recurrence of bladder cancer
● heart diseases
● digestive tract infections
● skin eczema 

How can you ingest probiotics?

So the microbe could be called a probiotic, it should survive in your intestine after being ingested (eaten), survive apart from your body, have benefits for your body and be safely consumed. They can be found in food like:

● yogurt
● kefir
● kimchee
● Sauerkraut
● miso soup
● soft cheese
● acidophilus milk
● pickles
● tempeh
● supplements
● etc.

Where do the probiotics live?

The main place probiotics live is your digestive tract (mainly in large intestines). Then come your mouth, vagina, skin, lungs and urinary tract.

Probiotic supplements

You can take probiotics in a variety of forms such as food, drinks, pills, powders and liquid. probiotic supplements sometimes are combined with the prebiotics. What is the difference between them? Prebiotics act as food for the good bacteria that already exist in your body stimulating their growth. Supplement that contains prebiotics and probiotics is called synbiotic. Always talk to your doctor before taking any supplement, as there are thousands of types of bacteria and you need to find the right solution for your specific case.

When you have chosen the probiotic supplement, be very attentive to keep the storage instructions. They are very sensitive to heat, oxygen, light and humidity. make a habit to read the labels and the instruction of the supplement you buy and check the expiration date. 

Probiotics are considered to be safe generally. There is a risk in using them only when you are in some medical condition. Risks increase because the condition may cause a weakened immune system. Avoid using probiotics when you:

● have a weakened immune system 
● serious illness.
● recently had surgery

 For healthy people, probiotics are not harmful. 

Final notes

If you are interested to add the probiotics to your diet you need to talk to your doctor first. After you have decided to give it a try you can choose which method is suitable for you. You can balance it by changing your daily meals and adding some food and drinks or supplements. Remember that bacteria plays an important role for your immune system, and you should always take care of it. Stay safe and hydrated!