Not all Probiotics are Equal.

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that we need for good health and vitality. Probiotics beneficially affect humans by improving the balance of flora in the digestive system. The word probiotic actually means "for life": pro + bios = "for life".
Did you know that the human digestive system contains over 400 different species of micro-organisms? On average, an adult human carries about 3 to 4 kgs of bacterial gut flora. This represents an enormous number of bacteria. The reason we have so many bacteria inside us is because we require them for many beneficial actions within the body.
Why do we need probiotics?
In order for us to maintain a healthy digestive system we need to ensure that we have lots of "good" bacteria. These friendly bacteria have a number of important roles:

• Improving your digestion;
• Producing vitamins;
• Relieving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS);    
• Detoxifying chemicals;
• Producing nutrients to repair the gut lining;
• Increasing resistance to infections and regulating the immune function;
• Preventing the overgrowth of bad bacteria.

Are all probiotics the same?
Taking a probiotic supplement every single day will promote good health and assist in the prevention of disease, however not all probiotic supplements are created equal. Different probiotics have different effects within the body – there are many probiotic products on the market, but they are not all the same. Why strain matters It is important to check the strain of the probiotic you are taking. Probiotics differ according to genus (e.g. Lactobacillus), species (e.g. acidophillus), and strain (e.g. NCFM). While all probiotics are considered safe and friendly in a broad sense, not all probiotics possess enough health benefits to be considered therapeutic. This is why it is important to use the right strain for the job you have in mind.

Do I really need a probiotic?
Very few people can truly say that their diet and lifestyle is perfect. This is just a fact of living in the world today. We can, however, still strive to get the most of life by having a healthy diet, exercising regularly and by considering the many benefits of probiotics. The number of 'good' bugs in your digestive system can be imbalanced by a wide range of factors including: 

• Excess alcohol intake;
• Consuming too much dietary fat;
• Eating a low fibre diet;
• Excess stress;
• Exposure to toxic substances;
• Eating too many processed and unhealthy foods;
• Gastro infections;
• Antibiotic use.