About 60-70% of your body’s immune system is located in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Your GI tract naturally contains both good bacteria and bad bacteria. The good bacteria that populate your gut are known as probiotics. Probiotic supplements are designed to be introduced into your intestinal tract to increase the population of good bacteria, as probiotics have been shown to offer health benefits and help in the management of many diseases and ailments, especially gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and Crohn’s disease.

While probiotics naturally occur in many foods and are fermented into others (yogurt, some cheeses, certain beverages, etc.), taking them in supplement form has increased in popularity in recent years because eating probiotic foods in necessary volumes is not always practical or easy.

Probiotics can keep you healthy by providing numerous benefits to the body. Some of the most common uses for probiotics are for specific intestinal issues, like constipation, bloating, and digestive troubles. But probiotics aren’t just for people with stomach issues. They can offer great benefits for people that do not suffer from major health conditions. Research has shown that probiotics can strengthen the immune system, improve nutrient absorption, manage cholesterol levels, reduce fatigue, and much more.