A Pharmacist’s Guide to Choosing the Right Probiotic
A Pharmacist’s Guide to Choosing the Right Probiotic Has a healthcare professional, friend, or even your own curiosity inspired you to start taking probiotics? Have you visited the probiotic section of your local drugstore and have no clue which product to select? If your answer to both these questions was a resounding yes – worry not! Like you, many Canadians find that selecting the right probiotic can be a very confusing process, and are sometimes unsure if they even need to take one at all. We are here to help, and hopefully answer some of your most burning questions below! What are Probiotics? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. The human gut contains several different types of bacteria, which are collectively referred to as your “gut microbiome” or “intestinal flora”. Normally, you have a balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria, but sometimes f...
