Probiotics are live microorganisms, often referred to as “good” bacteria, that have numerous health benefits. Good bacteria live in our digestive tract and are necessary for our bodies to function properly. Good bacteria help our body digest food, destroy disease-causing “bad” bacteria, and produce important vitamins, along with many other essential functions. Probiotics need to be living and be the same as or similar to the microorganisms that naturally live in our body to be effective.

Taking daily probiotics supports the health of our digestive tract. This is important because a healthy digestive tract is key to maintaining overall health, preventing disease and other health problems, and recovering from illness. Probiotics do this by creating a healthy habitat of microflora in your gut—the microscopic mix of bacteria, algae and fungi. Taking daily probiotics ensures we have a healthy mix of gut bacteria so our bodies function properly.

Probiotics, to be effective in humans, must be living cultures derived from mammals. Many of the probiotic cultures in foods are not derived from mammals and are not living.