Probiotics have become exceedingly popular in recent years - and with a good reason. These little inhabitants of our gut help us stay healthy by improving our digestion, enhancing immunity, and even normalizing cholesterol levels. However, not all probiotics are created equal. Nowadays the market is flooded with so many different products that it may simply confuse the customer. Here are three common mistakes made by consumers when choosing a probiotic supplement:

1. Not choosing clinically tested strains

Don't fall for scams. You may be surprised to learn that some specific supplements still contain numerous probiotic strains with no safe history in human nutrition. Ironically, such products can lead to further deterioration in health.

There's only a handful of probiotic cultures that have been tested to have a beneficial impact on one's health. Some of them are listed bellow:

• Bifidobacterium bifidum

• Lactobacillus acidophilus

• Bifidobacterium longum

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus

• Lactobacillus casei

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus

2. Not taking a sufficient amount

Probiotics need to be taken in sufficient amounts in order to really benefit your health. A general rule of thumb is that 2-10 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) is protective and preventive, while 20 billion daily should be enough if you're recovering from an illness.

One more tip: Try to choose products that clearly state each dose's CFU. Avoid those probiotics that list ingredients only by weight. Plain and simply, you should take the same amount of CFUs as that shown to be effective in clinical studies.

3. Not reading customer reviews

One of the best and easiest ways to determine the quality of any supplement is to read consumer reviews and product ratings. Take your time and find out what people who tried the product had to say. Are there any side effects to be aware of? Has the probiotic actually helped others? Are there any reviews at all? You must take all those things into consideration when choosing the optimal product.

Probiotics can be an intelligent way to respond to various ailments. There are some mistakes which people naturally come across when purchasing probiotic supplements but they can be easily avoided with a bit of research. You can learn more about how probiotics can benefit your health by reading my other articles.