Talk to any health enthusiast about your weak stomach struggles and it won't be long before the topic of probiotics comes up. And with good reason. From irritable bowel syndrome to eczema, sufferers can behold the power of probiotics.

If you're unfamiliar with this gastro miracle worker, it's time to brush up on this healthy bacteria.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria that predominately live in the gastrointestinal tract. They help balance the “good” and “bad” micro-organisms. In the 1990s, interest surged in probiotics as doctors began to see the benefits of using them to treat digestive problems.

Microflora, the bacteria found in the large intestine, aids digestion, synthesizes vitamins and help nutrients metabolize meds, support functioning of the gut and enhance the immune system. That is why it is important to keep the microflora up to snuff, which is where probiotics come in.

There are two major classes of probiotics useful in humans – lactobacillis and bifidobacteria. One fact revealed by research is that different types of probiotics are helpful in some situations but may not be helpful against other bacteria types in certain body parts. So quite a bit of research has yet to be done to ferret out the uses of both types of probiotics.

Lactobacillis

This is a “friendly” bacteria that lives in the gastrointestinal tract. With more than 400 varieties of bacterial, or microbiotal or mircroflora species in the gut, the majority live in the colon. This bacteria helps to absorb nutrients, break down food and fight off organisms that cause diseases such as diarrhea. Helpful in treating or preventing Crohn’s disease, bacteria that causes ulcers and UTIs, digestive problems, inflammation of the colon and vaginal yeast infections.