Probiotic Ingredients

Despite the reputation of bacteria as disease-causing microorganisms, some strains can actually benefit your health. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, regularly taking probiotics, or "good" bacteria, through dietary means like yogurt can improve gastrointestinal function, delay allergy development in children and treat and prevent vaginal and urinary infections in women.

Lactobacillus

The majority of probiotics is similar to those naturally found in the gut, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Lactobacillus, for example, is lactic acid-producing bacteria that helps regulate the digestive tract and is especially helpful in those who are lactose intolerant. Common strains present in probiotic yogurt include L. acidophilus and L. reuteri, MayoClinic says. Lactobacillus bacterium may also be effective in treating diarrhea, lung infections and irritable bowel syndrome, according to MedlinePlus.

Bifidobacterium

Bifidobacterium is a group of bacteria that naturally live in the intestines. When administered as a probiotic, these microorganisms can restore good bacteria within the gut diminished by diarrhea, antibiotics and other conditions, according to MedlinePlus. Common strains include B. bifidus and B. longum, which are live and active cultures present in supplements or yogurt.

Streptococcus Thermophilus

Streptococcus thermophilus is a commonly used lactic acid probiotic. Although many Streptococci bacterial strains are detrimental to your health, this species can help in regulating the digestive tract, immune system response and other conditions, according to Jorg Hacker and Ulrich Dobrindt in their book "Pathogenomics: Genome Analysis of Pathogenic Microbes." It also works well in conjunction with bifidobacterium to relieve symptoms of diarrhea in infants and ulcerative colitis, MedlinePlus says.