What Are Probiotics For?

If you have ever taken antibiotics to heal an infection, your physician may have suggested the addition of yogurt to your diet. Yogurt contains helpful bacterium known as "probiotics" that can help control the yeast that may form in your body when your antibiotic series is over. That is, because antibiotics often kill some of the good bacteria in your body along with the bad, the probiotics found in the yogurt help to rebalance your levels.

What is a Probiotic?

• Probiotics are microorganisms that mirror those found in your stomach. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, probiotics are "friendly bacteria" that can be found in some of the foods. These friendly fighters can be helpful in combating the unfriendly bacterium that causes conditions such as diarrhea, vaginitis, skin disorders, gum disease, respiratory disorders, candida and other forms of yeast infections.

What Qualifies as a Probiotic Microorganism?

• To qualify as a probiotic, a microorganism must meet three standards set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States. Namely, the microorganism must be living, have a documented record of health benefits and must be presented for consumption in quantities that promote the expected health benefit.

Characteristics of a Probiotic

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States also puts forth guidelines that focus on the classification and safety of the particular probiotic. The safety characteristics of probiotics are strictly outlined and include classification according to genus and strain level as well as animal assessments. Guidelines also include health implications, studies, proven benefits and shelf life.

The Immune System

• The living microorganisms found in probiotics have been found to increase the productivity of the immune system. Prior to birth, we have no exposure to dangerous microbes. However, once we become part of the outside world, microbe exposure is instant and continuous. Probiotics help to keep the bad microbes at bay by stimulating the immune system.

Respiratory Infections

• Researchers hypothesize that the addition of probiotics into the immune system at an early age may guard against allergies and other respiratory disorders. Studies are underway to evaluate the effectiveness of long-term probiotics use against asthma and respiratory allergies in children.

What Types of Foods Naturally Contain Probiotics?

• You can naturally enhance the amount of probiotics that are in your system by increasing the amount of dairy products that you eat. Cheese and yogurt are a rich source of probiotics that can be found in your local supermarket. Also, fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and apples help boost the effectiveness of the probiotics that are already in your system