Everyone’s talking about probiotics right now. From the benefits for your digestion to the impact on your mental health, these live microorganisms have got themselves a great reputation.

Found in foods such as yoghurts, kefir, sourdough bread and some cheeses, probiotics have been found to help to balance the good and bad bacteria in your stomach. While we always recommend a food first approach, certified health education specialist Brielle Merchant tells Strong Women that if you aren’t getting a wide enough range of live bacteria in your food, you can take supplements to up your intake.

But knowing what to look for is not particularly straightforward. Not only are there different strains, but there are also literally billions of these things called colony-forming units, otherwise known as a balanced group of bacteria. When combined, all of these things can create different environments for your gut – and some are more beneficial than others.

We’ve put together a list of the key things to keep in mind when researching and shopping for probiotic supplements. However, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor before taking probiotic supplements, especially if there is a specific issue you want to tackle.

Probiotics: experts explain what to look for when buying supplements