The health benefits of probiotics are well-known. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that can help you to improve gut health, lose weight, boost your immune system and enjoy other incredible benefits. Unfortunately, many people who have added probiotic-enriched foods to their diet have been less than impressed by their lackluster results. Before you give up on probiotics and let their potential health benefits escape your grasp, a closer look at how probiotics work and what you can do to boost results is in order.

While many people associate bacteria with illness or contamination, the reality is that there are both good and bad strains of bacteria. Good bacteria are essential for a healthy gut. One of the important roles that they play in your gut is to facilitate the movement of food through your system. This may be particularly important if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or other digestive conditions. Because a sluggish gut is a common issue in pregnancy, some women benefit from taking a probiotic-enriched supplement containing methylfolate during pregnancy.

There are several strains of healthy bacteria that your body needs for optimal health. Some of these are lactobacillus, bifidobacterium and saccharomyces boulardii. These and other probiotics that are found in supplements and in various foods naturally work in different ways. Because of this, many probiotic supplements contain several different types of healthy bacteria.

While some people incorporate probiotics into their diet to take their health to the next level, others do so in order to find relief from bothersome and painful health conditions. If your probiotic supplement is not living up to your expectations, you may feel disappointed and frustrated. The dismal results that your current supplement is producing for you may be related to the product that you are taking rather than to your body’s response to probiotics.

Consider that many probiotic supplements and products on the market today only have three strains of bacteria. Because each strain functions in different ways to improve your health, finding a supplement that has a wider range of bacillus strains is a great starting point. Keep in mind that many lactic acid-based probiotics are relatively weak. This is because the manufacturers do not take special precautions to protect the bacteria from the effects of exposure to light, heat, stomach acid and oxygen. Finally, the concentrate of probiotics in the supplement can vary as well. Some products have substantially more spore-based probiotics per capsule or serving than others.

Whether you are taking a probiotic with methylfolate during pregnancy or you want to enjoy the benefits of healthy probiotics for other reasons, you must take the time to identify the best supplement or product on the market. Look for a highly-concentrated supplement that has up to five unique bacillus strains. In addition, focus on the manufacturing process to ensure that the probiotic supplement that you take has superior strength. While it can take time to research the options and to find the best probiotics available, rest assured that your gut will thank you for the effort.