How long a probiotic takes to work
Days, weeks or months? What probiotic studies actually measured, a realistic week-by-week timeline, and how to give one a fair trial.
Resource center
Resource Center
Straight answers about bloating, digestion and the gut after 40.
Probiotics for bloating: what the research actually shows
Some probiotic strains have reduced bloating in single trials, but pooled evidence is much less certain. What the big reviews found and how to...
Probiotics during menopause: what the research says
Can probiotics help with bones, estrogen or menopause symptoms? Here's what trials in women around menopause actually found, and what they didn't.
Prebiotic myths: what labels promise vs. what studies show
Prebiotic is everywhere on food labels. Six common beliefs about prebiotics, and what the research actually shows about bacteria, bloating and dose.
Saccharomyces boulardii explained: the probiotic that's a yeast
Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast, not a bacterium. What it is, where the research is strongest, what it shows for IBS, and who...
A daily probiotic routine that makes your trial count
A simple day-in-the-life routine for taking a probiotic: when to take it, where to keep it, how to score bloating, and when to decide...
Can probiotics affect your mood? A look at the evidence
So-called psychobiotics get a lot of attention. Here's what brain scans, a failed mouse-to-human test and pooled trials actually show about probiotics and mood.
Why the same probiotic works for some people and not others
Two people, one probiotic, two very different results. What research says about why: your existing gut microbes, different causes of bloating, placebo and product...
Small-batch homemade sauerkraut: a simple recipe
One cabbage, salt, a jar and some patience. A simple small-batch sauerkraut recipe, plus an honest look at what research says about sauerkraut and...
Are probiotics safe? Answers to common safety questions
For most healthy adults, probiotics have a reassuring safety record. But there are important exceptions. Straight answers on side effects, risks and who should...
How to check the study behind a clinically studied claim
A step-by-step way to find the research behind a supplement claim, and to tell whether it actually applies to the bottle in your hand.
How to choose a probiotic: a 7-point checklist
Choosing a probiotic takes more than grabbing the biggest number. A 7-point checklist covering strains, dose, CFU claims, quality testing and realistic expectations.