In our germ-phobic world of antibiotic medicines, cleansers and hand wipes, it's important to remember that not all bacteria are bad for us. In fact, some naturally occurring bacteria (gut flora) are good for us, promoting digestive tract health and overall wellness. Those in our intestinal tracts play a critical role in digestion, helping us break down foods and absorb nutrients. Recent studies also suggest that probiotics aid the immune system in fighting disease and preventing illness, such as colds and flus.

Even ancient civilizations recognized the benefits of good bacteria. From Greece to India, foods high in probiotic content -- fermented foods and cultured milk products, such as kefir, live yogurt and aged cheeses, miso, tempeh, pickles and kimchi -- were consumed to help prevent and treat ailments and restore balance.

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Other potential uses include relief of infectious diarrhea, urinary tract infections, skin infections, tooth decay, periodontal disease and lactose intolerance. While results of research testing the impact of probiotics on these conditions are mixed, there is some evidence and strong interest in the role that probiotics may play in their prevention and treatment.

Although there are few serious side effects associated with taking probiotics, there is a general lack of quality control for supplements in the United States because of weak regulatory standards. Different supplement preparations may not contain the same mix of ingredients or be fresh enough to have any impact.

The choice of probiotic supplements is further complicated by the need for finding products that use highly viable, stable strains of organisms. How you go about finding such products is a big question mark, and people should be cautious in their selection of probiotic supplements. Consumers need to seek out the advice of doctors, nutrition experts and those knowledgeable in supplements when making a selection.