Several times each week, I am asked about the value of probiotics. Many of my patients are already on them, based on a personal recommendation or an advertisement. As a gastroenterologist, I routinely treat patients with all varieties of diarrhea conditions, such as irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, lactose intolerance, celiac disease and the highly feared gluten sensitivity. Many of them arrive in the office with a probiotic in hand waiting for me to pass judgment. These patients look to me as a Digestive Supreme Court Justice as they sit on the edge of their chairs waiting for my ruling in the case of Probiotics vs Disease. First, let’s all be clear on what a probiotic is. Probiotics are bacteria that provide health benefits when consumed. Stop a moment and consider how bizarre this concept is. Physicians have been fighting germs since the days of Louis Pasteur. We have taught the public for generations how important personal hygiene is. W
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