Probiotic Checklist: Making a Smart Selection

Selecting a probiotic can be challenging, because not all of the products with “probiotic” on the label are true probiotics. Scientifically speaking, a probiotic must meet the following criteria: it must be backed by one or more scientific studies showing how it benefits human health; it must provide an adequate dose to achieve the health benefit; it must be the right strain(s) for achieving the benefit you’re looking for; it must be safe for the person taking it; and it should be properly labeled.