At this point, the word “probiotic” is as important to the wellness ethos as “organic” or “omega-3.”

You’re probably well aware that these beneficial microbes are critical to your gut health, and you may even be familiar with the wide variety of probiotic foods (kombucha, kimchi, and yogurt to name a few!) that help nourish the microbiome your intestines .* And while a diet rich in these foods is undoubtedly important for maintaining a healthy gut, sometimes our bodies need a little extra support in the form of probiotic supplements.*

Now this is where things get a little more complicated. Here’s the thing: not all probiotic supplements are created equal.

And since there are so many probiotic supplements to choose from, I turned to Mindbodygreen’s VP of Science Ashley Jordan Ferrer, PhD, RDN, and a few other experts to help cut through the noise.