Probiotics can be confusing. Do they actually work?Probiotics can be confusing. Do they actually work?

According to Kiran Krishnan, Chief Scientific Officer at Just Thrive Probiotic and Microbiome Labs, most consumer probiotics aren't doing what you think they should be doing, which leads to "doubters" of their effectiveness -- even if they've been established in the market for 15-20 years.

Science has improved since those "established" products took to market. 

Krishnan explains that for a probiotic to be truly effective, it must be able to survive the gastric system. Otherwise you're just moving "dead" bacteria through your system. 

Bacillus Indicus HU36® is one of the ingredients in Just Thrive's probiotic and has been designed to survive digestive acids. It is currently one of the subjects of a number of clinical trials Krishnan is involved with, including trials on obesity, diabetes, gingivitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Krishnan also discusses leaky gut, which is a major driver of chronic illness. Essentially, toxins from your intestinal colonies leak through your gut lining into your bloodstream, resulting in chronic, long-term inflammation. 

Listen as Krishnan joins host Lisa Davis to provide the 411 on probiotics.