Are soil-based probiotics healthier?

Q:

My friend has been raving about how soil-based probiotics have increased her energy and nixed her indigestion. I already take a probiotic, but it seems like she is getting better results. Should I switch?

A:

Probiotics containing soil-based organisms, or SBOs, are gaining in popularity, and for good reason: They contain bacteria strains our ancestors regularly came into contact with while working in the garden or eating wildgrown foods. Today we’re less likely to come into contact with these strains— and new research suggests less exposure to SBOs may be connected to the recent rise in immune system disorders. What’s more, SBOs are less likely to get broken down by digestive acids in the stomach, and one study found that SBOs are able to multiply twice as quickly in the gut as food-based strains, so they’re more helpful long-term.

But while SBOs provide plenty of benefits, we recommend finding a supplement that offers a variety of soilbased and food-based strains that work together to optimally promote health. One we like that delivers a wide range: Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra (SwansonVitamins.com).