Probiotics are live microorganisms that are naturally present in the body.They are the “good bugs” that live in your body, and are considered beneficial to the body. Some of the ways they help are by suppressing the growth of bad bugs, improving immune function, helping to produce Vitamin K, and aiding in digestion.
In the digestive tract alone, there are over 400 species of probiotics, the most common being lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. When the balance between probiotics (good bugs) and bad bugs is disturbed, the bad bugs increase in number and disease can occur. This is called dysbiosis, and most commonly results in digestive disturbances and vaginal yeast infections. Dysbiosis can be caused by many things, but the most common are oral antibiotics, inadequate dietary fiber, and ingestion of environmental toxins.