Advanced probiotics
Reviewed by Dr. Nikita Dinger, Founder & CEO, BioMeBar. Last reviewed 7 October 2026.
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Probiotics are live microorganisms that, in adequate amounts, may give a health benefit to the person who takes them. At BioMeBar, India’s first personalised synbiotic company, we use the word advanced for probiotics that are chosen strain by strain, for a stated purpose, and matched to the individual. They are one of the three parts of what we call synbiotic: advanced probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics together.
The name on the label is only the start
“Lactobacillus” is a genus, “rhamnosus” is a species, and “GG” is a strain. Benefits belong to strains. A strain that has been studied for one thing can behave quite differently from a close cousin, which is why a generic bottle of mixed lactobacilli says little about what it may do for you. When we build a combination, we look at each strain individually and at what it has been studied for.
The strain library lists every strain we use, with a plain description and the uses it has been studied for. A few examples show the range.
Strains we use, and what they have been studied for
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was isolated in 1985 and is among the most researched probiotic strains anywhere. It attaches to the gut lining and has been studied for digestive comfort during antibiotic courses and for supporting the gut barrier.
- Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, developed at University College Cork, has been studied in people with IBS-type abdominal pain and bloating.
- Bifidobacterium longum BB536 was isolated in 1969 and has been studied for bowel regularity in constipation-prone adults and for immune function in older adults.
- Bifidobacterium lactis strains such as HN019 have been studied for gut transit time and regularity.
- Lactobacillus plantarum, a species also found in fermented vegetables, includes strains studied for IBS-type discomfort and, in the case of PS128, for stress and sleep.
- Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast rather than a bacterium, which means antibiotics do not act on it. It has been studied for digestive comfort during and after antibiotic courses.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 has been studied for women’s urogenital comfort.
How probiotics work in the gut
Once swallowed, probiotics pass through the stomach and reach the intestine, where they interact with the gut’s resident community, the mucus layer and immune cells. Depending on the strain, they may support a balanced bacterial community, compete with unwanted microbes for space and nutrients, produce compounds such as lactic acid, and influence how the gut lining and the gut’s immune system behave. Some strains also communicate with the nervous system, which is why a few have been studied as “psychobiotics” for stress and mood.
Most probiotics do not move in permanently. They are visitors, and their effects are strongest while you keep taking them. That is one reason we place so much weight on consistency and on pairing them with the right prebiotics to give them something to work with.
Who advanced probiotics may suit
People tend to look for probiotics when a pattern in the gut persists: bloating, constipation, loose motions, or the discomfort that comes with IBS. Some want to support a sensitive gut after a course of antibiotics or a stomach infection. Others are interested in immunity, the gut-brain axis, or how hormonal changes around the cycle show up in digestion, as covered on our PMS page. Because strains differ, the right choice for one person can differ from the next.
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How we personalise the probiotic part
We start with your story. What are your symptoms, and when do they happen? What do you eat? Have you taken antibiotics recently? Is stress a trigger? Where it is available, an at-home gut test adds information about the bacteria you carry. We then choose the strains whose studied uses fit your situation. To begin, message BioMeBar on WhatsApp or try the gut assessment. Our approach page explains the matching logic.
Food sources of probiotics in an Indian diet
You may already eat live cultures. Home-set curd, buttermilk (chaas), the batter for idli and dosa after overnight fermentation, kanji made from carrots or beetroot, and pickles made by traditional fermentation rather than vinegar all carry microbes. The numbers and strains in food vary a lot from kitchen to kitchen, so food cannot be matched to a purpose the way a selected strain can, but it is a lovely daily habit and worth keeping. Heat kills live cultures, so add curd to a dish after cooking rather than during.
How to take it
With BioMeBar, probiotics come together with prebiotics and postbiotics in one sachet. Take one sachet a day, stirred into half a glass of a drink of your choice. Choose a time that you can repeat. Consistency over weeks matters more than perfect timing on any given day.
What to expect
Early on, you may notice a little extra gas or a change in stool pattern while the gut adjusts. This tends to ease within days. Benefits, where they come, tend to build over a few weeks and are easier to judge if you keep a short diary of symptoms. We follow up with you and adjust the match if needed. Our article on how long probiotics take to work goes into more detail.
Frequently asked questions
What does CFU mean?
CFU stands for colony-forming units, a count of live organisms. More is not automatically better, because the strain and its studied use matter as much as the number.
Are advanced probiotics different from the ones in the chemist?
The difference is in the selection. Instead of a generic mix, we pick strains for a stated purpose and combine them with prebiotics and postbiotics, matched to your history and symptoms.
Do I need to refrigerate the sachet?
Store it as directed on the pack, usually in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. We will confirm storage details when you order.
Can I take probiotics during antibiotics?
Many people do, and some strains, such as L. rhamnosus GG and S. boulardii, have been studied in that setting. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about timing, and tell us which medicines you take.
Can probiotics replace curd?
They do different jobs. Curd is a nourishing food with live cultures; a selected strain combination is chosen for a purpose. Most people do well with both.
Will I get gas at the beginning?
Some people do, mostly in the first few days. It usually settles. If it does not, message us.
How are probiotics different from synbiotics?
A probiotic is the live organism alone. A synbiotic adds prebiotics and postbiotics. See our explainer for details, or the synbiotics overview.
A note on safety
Probiotics are generally well tolerated by healthy adults. They are dietary supplements and not for medicinal use. Please speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant, immunosuppressed, taking blood thinners, or have a central line.
Keep reading
Look at the strain library, then see how prebiotics and postbiotics complete the picture.
BioMeBar provides nutrition and gut health guidance and does not replace medical care. See a doctor for severe, persistent or worrying symptoms.