Probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that live in the human body, are all the rage these days. Yet many consumers are confused about which products are effective or may not realize that there are many different probiotic strains, and not all share the same effects. In response to this confusion, an expert panel has released a report recommending what should count as a probiotic for labeling purposes. The good news, according to the report, is that many common probiotic bacteria are beneficial, including several Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. However, the report cautions that probiotic products should contain active cultures and at least 1 billion CFU’s (colony-forming units) per serving.

Probiotics have been studied in relation to health conditions as varied as colic, irritable bowel syndrome, vaginitis, yeast infections, common cold, eczema, gingivitis, and food allergies and sensitivities.