Probiotics and Gut Health: A Prophylactic to Disease

It has been d iscovered that about 70% or more of the immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract, making it the largest immune organ in the body. Along these lines, the gut is the point of nutrient absorption and is constantly in flux. Probiotics and other ‘holistic' type methods have gained recent popularity due, in part, to an increasing risk of allergies to certain medications and antibiotic resistance. Though the idea of microbial diversity in the gut has been around for a long time, it has not been un til recently that studies have been conducted to try and delineate the mechanisms by through which they work. This review aims to discuss the main methods currently used, their benefits, and some risks that can occur when these approaches are self - dose