Health Tip: Should You Take Probiotics?

From an October 20th Health Day news item

By Diana Kohnle

(HealthDay News) — Probiotics are micro-organisms designed to help manage digestive health. Manufacturers are now including them in everything from yogurt to granola bars, the American Gastroenterological Association says.

[Probiotics: What They Are and What They Can Do for You]

While studies have shown that probiotics may help people with a host of digestive conditions, their benefit hasn’t been proven in people with severely compromised immune systems, the association says.

On the other hand, probiotics may help treat people with:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Diarrhea caused by infection with a virus, bacteria or parasite.
• Diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics.

 

HealthDay