Some view bacteria as negative things, often associated with germs and infections. However, there exist good bacteria that promote health and regularity in our bodies.

In the large intestine alone, there are more than 500 species of bacteria that help to facilitate digestion.

As we age, those good bacteria decrease, according to Dr. Veronica Vezzani, a family physician in Zelienople with the Butler Health System.

Vezzani said one way to combat this loss of good bacteria is by taking probiotic dietary supplements.

“Probiotics are good bacteria that help support the gastrointestinal tract,” Vezzani said. “They are live organisms that give a host of health benefits.”

Probiotics facilitate digestion, improve the immune system and help break down non-digestible foods.

Vezzani said she recommends probiotics to patients to help with symptoms of diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and eczema, among others. She also recommends patients take probiotics anytime they are on antibiotics, as probiotics can help replace any good bacteria that may be killed by an antibiotic.

“Any time I prescribe an antibiotic, I recommend a probiotic,” Vezzani said.

Probiotics can be naturally found in fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut, but are most commonly and effectively taken as dietary supplements in capsule, powder or a freeze-dried form. Vezzani said there are studies that show even probiotic-rich foods like Activia Probiotic Yogurt would need to be consumed in large quantities for there to be any substantial health benefits.

Vezzani stressed that it is important to know that taking a probiotic supplement is not a cure-all.

“You’re not going to take a probiotic and fix everything,” Vezzani said. “It improves symptoms but doesn’t fix.”

There can also be mild side effects when taking a probiotic, such as gas and bloating.

Vezzani said probiotics are also not long-term solutions. According to Vezzani, the benefits of a probiotic only last as long as it is regularly taken. For example, Vezzani recommends to stop taking a probiotic two weeks after taking an antibiotic, but as a treatment for symptoms of irritable bowl syndrome, probiotics should be taken regularly long-term, like a vitamin.

Probiotics will also not have the same effect on all people.

“If you don’t notice any benefit in the first four weeks, it may not be helpful,” Vezzani said.

When recommending a probiotic, Vezzani said she advises patients to find one that includes multiple types of bacteria, including lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.

“You should try to get one that has more than one bacteria in it,” Vezzani said. “Your body doesn’t have just one type of bacteria in it, so if you get a probiotic with three or four different kinds, it’s better for you.”

The best practice, according to Vezzani, is to consult with a pharmacist about the contents and cost of probiotic supplements in order to find the best one.