Having stomach issues? You’re not alone. About 40 percent of the
population experiences digestive stress, including gas,
bloating, cramps, acid reflux, or heartburn. And that’s on a
typical day—never mind a holiday! Probiotics can help. The
average digestive system hosts over 500 strains of bacteria,
most of them “friendly.” But sometimes the good bacteria–bad
bacteria balance teeters toward the bad side, especially if
you’re taking antibiotics (which kill the good bugs along with
the bad). Consuming probiotics can help maintain proper
digestion and intestinal balance. You can find probiotics
naturally in foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and tempeh, but
you can also buy them as supplements. Probiotics ease the
symptoms of lactose intolerance and help control inflammation.
Scientists also cite promising results in the use of probiotics
for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Probiotics have
also been used for treating diarrhea, particularly when caused
by antibiotic use, but also when caused by contamin