The video above was featured in JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments. A peer-reviewed journal, it presents research methods in video format. Here, researchers outline how people in areas that don't have a lot of resources can easily create probiotics for themselves and their communities. The method is straightforward enough that anyone can do it.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health of the NIH, "probiotics are live microbes that are intended to have health benefits." A common product sold as a probiotic is yogurt. While probiotics have been studied extensively, there is still a lot to be known. There is evidence that probiotics can help with digestive ailments like irritable bowel syndrome and may aid in the prevention of diarrhea caused by infections and antibiotics. However, not every probiotic has the same effect, and that effect can vary between individuals.
For healthy individuals, probiotics are generally safe to consume, side effects are uncommon and limited to digestive symptoms such as gas. But people who are considered at-risk, like infants, people with weakened immune systems or who have recently had surgery, are advised by the NIH to avoid probiotics.
