The Following is an article I recently found on WebMD.com that truly summed up probiotics. With all of the hype and greenwashing we see everyday in the stores and on TV this article truly helped me understand probiotics and the importance for our gut.

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics

While probiotic-foods contain live bacteria, prebiotic foods feed the good bacteria already living in your digestive system. You can find prebiotics in foods such as asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, oatmeal, red wine, honey, maple syrup, and legumes. Eat prebiotic foods on their own or with probiotic foods to perhaps give the probiotics a boost.

Probiotic Supplements

In addition to being found in foods, probiotics are available as supplements in capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid form. Although they don't provide the additional nutritional value that foods can offer, they can be convenient. If you're interested, talk to your doctor. If you're acutely ill or have immune system problems, you may want to be cautious about consuming probiotics.

Try Tempeh for Probiotics

Made from a base of fermented soybeans, this Indonesian patty produces a type of natural antibiotic that fights certain bacteria. In addition, tempeh is very high in protein. Its flavor has often been described as smoky, nutty, and similar to a mushroom. Tempeh can be marinated and used in meals in place of meat.

Probiotics in Sour Pickles

When looking to pickles for probiotics, opt for naturally fermented varieties where vinegar wasn't used in the pickling process. A sea salt and water solution encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria and may give sour pickles some digestive benefits.

Milk With Probiotics

One of the easiest ways to get probiotics into your diet is by adding acidophilus milk. This is simply milk that has been fermented with bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus. Sometimes it's labeled sweet acidophilus milk. Buttermilk -- generally milk that is cultured with lactic acid bacteria -- is also rich in probiotics.

Sourdough Bread Aids Digestion

The next time you make a sandwich, pay attention to what's holding your cold cuts and cheese. San Francisco's famous sourdough bread contains lactobacilli, a probiotic which may benefit digestion.

Kefir: Probiotic-Filled Drink

According to legend, kefir dates back to the shepherds of Eurasia's Caucasus Mountains. They discovered that the milk they carried had a tendency to ferment into a bubbly beverage. Thick, creamy, and tangy like yogurt, kefir has its own strains of probiotic bacteria, plus a few beneficial yeast varieties.

Soft Cheeses Fight Bacteria

While potentially good for your digestion, not all probiotics can survive the journey through your gastrointestinal tract. But research finds the lactobacillus strains in some fermented soft cheeses, like Gouda, are hardy enough to survive. In addition, cheese may act as a carrier for probiotics which may, in turn, boost the immune system.

Miso Soup for Active Digestion

A popular breakfast food in Japan, this fermented soybean paste really can get your digestive system moving. Probiotic-filled miso reportedly contains more than 160 bacteria strains. It's often used to make a salty soup that is low in calories and high in B vitamins and protective antioxidants.

Sauerkraut Boosts Digestion

Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) contains the beneficial microbes leuconostoc and lactobacillus. Choose unpasteurized sauerkraut because pasteurization (used to treat most supermarket sauerkraut) kills active, beneficial bacteria. Sauerkraut -- and the similar but spicy Korean dish, kimchi -- is also loaded with immune-boosting vitamins that may help ward off infection.

Yogurt: Probiotics Source

Yogurt is the most familiar source of probiotics -- "good" bacteria like lactobacillus orbifidobacteria that keep a healthy balance in your gut. Studies suggest that probiotics can help ease lactose intolerance. They also may help tame gas, diarrhea, and other digestive problems. You can pay extra for special digestive yogurt brands, but any with "live and active cultures" listed may help.