Have you seen all of the hype about probiotics in the supermarket? Probiotics are living organisms that have many beneficial uses within the human gastrointestinal tract. In order to capture the benefits of these living organisms, typically bacteria, people can ingest them in a variety of foods or in nutritional supplements.

It is believed that the bacteria can be helpful to those who have a bacterial imbalance. Here are some signs that you possibly have a bacterial imbalance:

• You have regular food sensitivities or allergies
• You have trouble losing weight
• You have regular constipation
• You have chronic diarrhea
• You have chronic yeast infections
• You have regular acne problems
• You develop frequent foot fungus
• You have ongoing joint inflammation or stiffness

Health Uses of Probiotics

While research in this area is still ongoing and some are unsure about the benefits, many researchers are supportive of a variety of health benefits to the body. One of the benefits of probiotics for the body is their ability to kill unfriendly bacteria in the gut that may be causing cramping, diarrhea or cramping. And some use probiotics to help ease the discomfort from being lactose intolerant.

Another reason that people ingest probiotics is to counter balance the negative effects on the body from some microorganisms. In particular, probiotics have shown benefits in the fight against diarrhea caused by infection, irritable bowel syndrome, vaginal infections, some skin infections and inflammatory bowel disease.

Treating Diarrhea with Probiotics

One of the most significant benefits of probiotics is their effectiveness in treating diarrhea. While supplements have shown some effectiveness in treating diarrhea, most experts recommend a daily dose of probiotics in a food substance, and in particular, in a dairy form. Utilizing probiotics in this form has shown to rapidly reduce the signs and symptoms of diarrhea in patients.

Food Sources of Probiotics

Some of the most common foods that can be found containing probiotics are yogurts, milk, some juices, some soy products and miso. Some foods have naturally present probiotics while others have been fortified with the bacteria. The most popular form of food probiotics is yogurt, with several large brands offering yogurts infused with the healthy bacteria. While results are still mixed as to their effectiveness, the yogurt companies suggest that an individual eat the yogurt for two weeks to see immediate and long lasting changes in their gastrointestinal system.

Supplement Sources of Probiotics

Some individuals prefer to use supplements to gain their probiotics benefits. One of the recommended items to look for on supplements claiming to have probiotics is the actual content. Some experts recommend that there should be 10,000,000 live probiotic bacteria in a single dose to provide the most benefit to the person ingesting the supplements.

Other experts recommend that you purchase probiotic supplements that are certified organic, suggesting that there has been little altering of the actual bacteria in the production of the product. But, when you search for supplements, you will notice that there is a large selection, each with their own claims, dosage recommendations and quantity of bacteria present within a single dose.

No matter which form you select to ingest probiotics, the benefits can still be received. The largest difference in the various products available on the market today is the quantity of the actual bacteria found within each serving. As with any new health practice, it is important to discuss it with your primary care physician. While there have not been any adverse side effects reported, there are effects on your body that occur when you introduce high levels of a living bacteria into your gut.