Strains: the Name of the Game

If you’re using probiotics for specific health issues, it’s good to know where different strains live in the body

- VERA TWEED

A healthy balance of gut microorganisms can improve your health by enhancing digestion; reducing symptoms of digestive disorders; relieving diarrhea; relieving constipation; fending off infections; reducing risk of skin disorders; and lowering the odds of obesity, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, and possibly more.

The human gut contains about 1,500 species of probiotics. They can protect the structure of the digestive tract, stop pathogens from multiplying and causing illness, and produce enzymes to help break down food.

Each probiotic is part of a genus, a broad category such as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, and each of these is further divided into species. These are some popular species of probiotics found in supplements: