As we move, like it or not, into the cold, flu and strep throat season, there is good reason to consider getting more probiotics or “good guy” bacteria into our bodies. You can take probiotics supplements (ask an informed practitioner to make a recommedation) or look for yogurts and kefirs at the market.

What the probiotics can do is strengthen the immune system, especially the underrated but brain signal-sender digestive tract. Maybe even better, the probiotics can protect the gut’s health while taking antibiotic medications. Impressively, more doctors are recommending probiotic foods (including yeasts and sauerkraut) for just that reason. That’s a big change for even three years ago.

Offsetting the possible digestive grief of a 10-day course of antibiotics is a smart health strategy. An October poll by Harris Interactive reports that one in five U.S. adults taking antibiotics will suffer through medication-associated diarrhea than can be debilitating. Research shows taking probiotics along with your antibiotics course can reduce diarrhea and resulting dehydration symptoms by an average of 60 percent.

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