Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for us, especially our digestive system. Our body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep our gut healthy. One can find probiotics in supplements and some food items such as yogurt. Doctors often suggest probiotic supplements to help with common digestive, oral and vaginal infections.

Antibiotics are synthetic chemical substances which when ingested destroy harmful bacteria in our body, however, during this process, they also destroy some amount of good bacteria in our gut. On the other hand, Probiotics are live bacteria/yeast that is good for us, especially our digestive system. Probiotic supplementation restores the good bacteria in our gut to the normal level and also reduces some of the gut-related side effects of the antibiotics and help in the completion of the antibiotic course as well.

There is no daily recommended dose of probiotics largely because “not all probiotics are the same and there isn’t yet a consensus on how much or how often probiotics should be consumed from diet or supplements”. The World Gastroenterology Organization states that – “The dose needed for probiotics varies greatly depending on the strain and product. Although many over-the-counter probiotics deliver in the range of 1-10 billion CFU/dose, some products have been shown to be efficacious at lower levels, while some require substantially more.”

You should take probiotics for at least a week or as directed by your physician to get the desired health benefits. The dosage varies as per the type of micro-organism in your probiotic and the doctor’s advice should be followed for the duration of intake of probiotic.

Probiotics do not appear to pose any safety concerns for pregnant and lactating women as they are not systemically absorbed in our bodies. However, it is recommended to follow the advice of your doctor.

Most people do not experience any side effects upon taking probiotics. Probiotic supplements sometimes might cause a transient increase in gas and bloating. However, these side effects subside over a few days of taking probiotics.