With every bite you take, there are trillions of gut microbes going inside you. And, many of these microbes are the good bacteria. These are also known as probiotics.

Probiotics and gut flora influence our health in multiple ways apart from their function of keeping the bad bacteria in check. They also help to extract energy from what we eat, fortify our immune system, prevent obesity and protect against infection.

Here are a few points you should keep in mind...

• Choose a probiotic with a wide variety of bacteria strains, as each has very unique benefits.
• A probiotic in powder form usually has more alive bacterial cells than liquid probiotics.
• Avoid probiotics with high levels of sugar.
• Remember to be regular when taking probiotics. It takes time to see the benefits associated with them.
• Probiotics have been shown to help in a huge variety of situations, from improving digestion and immunity to reducing the chances of developing serious diseases such as cancer.
• Many people think that curd or dahi is the same as probiotics, but the good bacteria in curd are mostly dead and so aren't beneficial.
• For people eating heavy protein diets or taking protein shakes, probiotics can be very helpful in reducing the bloating associated with these eating habits.
• Probiotics are available in a variety of different forms, such as mouth dissolving powders and a range of different flavours, so don't be afraid to experiment and see what you like best.