All About P-BIOTICS

SUPPLEMENTS CONTAINING PREBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, AND POSTBIOTICS are very hot, but the truth is, these nutrients and microorganisms are available through a well-rounded diet. Here's what each P does for your gut.

- KAREN ANSEL

PROBIOTICS

These good-for-you live microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast, live peacefully in your body, providing numerous health benefits and protecting you against other more harmful organisms. You can increase the ratio of good to bad bacteria through food (and supplements, if needed).

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Decades of research indicate that certain probiotics may ease constipation, prevent traveler's diarrhea, and relieve IBS and ulcerative colitis symptoms. They may also help with atopic dermatitis, high cholesterol, and gum disease. But though there are many different kinds of probiotics, they're not interchangeable: These microbes are strain-specific, meaning each type has unique health-promoting actions. So while Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus casei, or Lactobacillus plantarum may help alleviate IBS-related gas and bloating, you'll want Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) or Saccharomyces boulardii if your issue is antibiotic-related diarrhea.

HOW TO GET THEM FROM FOOD: The best sources of probiotics are fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir, which usually boast multiple strains of bacteria. Though you may have heard that other fermented products such as kimchi and sauerkraut also contain probiotics, that's not exactly true, according to the National Institutes of Health-they do contain live bacteria, but their beneficial bugs lack sufficient strength and number to qualify as probiotics.

SHOULD YOU SUPPLEMENT?