Pro-biotics are also known as intestinal flora or beneficial bacteria. Some are ‘resident’ - meaning they live in the digestive system - while others ‘pass through’ - but they have a vital role to play as they move through the digestive tract. Pro-biotics have many functions including helping to make some B vitamins, supporting the immune system, digesting food and promoting the proper health of the digestive system.

There are also things called pre-biotics, which are foodstuffs that help to feed intestinal flora, such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifido Bacterium Bifidum. Pre-biotic foods include bananas, artichokes, barley, garlic, onions and soyabeans, as well as fructooligosaccharides (FOS).