Choosing a supplemental probiotic is as confusing as choosing any kind of supplement — the limitless brands all seem the same, but all claim to be different. Many brands claim their probiotic is the “best” because it has a certain amount of a certain bacterial strain proven to improve gut health. But where is the proof? And even if they provide some kind of proof, how do we know how much and what type of bacteria is best for our situation?

What are probiotics? What is prebiotics? How do we naturally change our microbiome with foods? Find out the difference between probiotics vs prebiotics and why your microbiome is your own island.

There are multiple signs to identify a healthy (or unhealthy) gut, besides just whether or not you have pain in your belly. The tricky part is each person can have different signs, expressed at different times. We covered the five biggest indicators — mood, stool quality, weight, immune, and bone health — to help you assess your personal health.