You’ve probably heard about probiotics. From commercials on television to articles in magazines, everyone seems to be talking about probiotics. But what are they?

We have bacteria living inside of our bodies and outside, on the skin. There are millions of different bacteria. Some bacteria are harmful to our health. These are the bacteria that cause infections, for example, or diseases like tuberculosis or food poisoning.

But there are some bacteria that are friendly. These bacteria help our bodies function well. They digest food, suppress the bad bacteria, and even help in the synthesis of vitamins.

Many things in our environment suppress the good bacteria and allow bad bacteria and other microorganisms, such as fungi and yeast, to thrive. People often take antibiotics, for example, to fight an infection. The problem is that antibiotics cannot simply target the bad bacteria; they kill the bad and the good, often creating an imbalance in friendly to unfriendly bacteria that can weaken a person’s immune system, cause Candida to thrive, or cause other health issues.

Probiotics can help. Probiotics are concentrations of friendly bacteria, either in fermented foods or supplements, that increase the amount of friendly bacteria in the body.

While the scientific proof is still coming in, the holistic community has long believed in the value of probiotics. We certainly do. They can help your body heal from many illnesses, strengthen the immune system, and improve digestion. Probiotics are indeed the “pros” when it comes to health!