This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Probiotics are not a one-size-fits-all solution (Image: Getty) If you have high cholesterol you wouldn’t try to treat it with a blood thinner. Someone living with Crohn’s disease wouldn’t assume their symptoms could be managed with statins, but when it comes to supplements, knowing what to choose from the health store’s shelves can be less clear cut.
This is particularly true of probiotics. Most of us know that taking them can bring benefits. If you've had a stomach upset, taken antibiotics or want to improve your digestive health, they can help to repopulate and rebalance good bacteria in the gut.
Most of us will admit we are unsure what the difference really is between one lengthily-named strain and the next, tending to choose products from brands friends have recommended, or that have the jazziest ad campaigns. But according to research published in the journal Frontiers , when it comes to picking probiotics we should be choosing strains based on the exact condition you are trying to treat. “I always tell people to treat probiotics as they would other medications,” says registered dietitian Megan Hilbert , who specialises in gut health nutrition.
“You wouldn’t expect someone to take heart medication if they were experiencing back pain. Research suggests that general probiotic use isn’t always helpful and that taking specific strains for specifi.