What are friendly bacteria, and should I be taking them?

The popularity of friendly bacteria supplements has dramatically increased over the last 10 years, with new research emerging every day! But how do you know if they are right for you? Our nutritionist, Rebecca Traylen, helped unpick what friendly bacteria are and the evidence surrounding their use.

Friendly bacteria supplements are able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and increase the number of good bacteria in the gut. These friendly bacteria have several health benefits including; the synthesis of various vitamins, immune system development, digesting food, combating harmful microorganisms and proper digestive functioning. There is good evidence that probiotics are helpful in improving digestive issues like preventing diarrhoea caused by infections and antibiotics and in improving symptoms of IBS. There is emerging evidence on the use of friendly bacteria supplements to treat several other conditions including allergies, eczema and UTIs. Additionally, friendly bacteria supplements can be used for infants suffering with colic and improving immunity and digestion in children.