Ah-choo! The cold winter months are here. To help keep your immune system working at its optimal level, it’s key to keep up good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle. And part of good eating is incorporating probiotics–also known as “good” bacteria–into your diet.

Probiotics are defined as “living microorganisms that confer a health benefit to the host when administered in adequate amounts,” according to the World Health Organization. These benefits include improving bodily functions such as immune function, regularity, digestion and detoxification.

“A lot of press is given to the ‘bad’ bacteria, so many people don’t realize that some bacteria are good for you and should be consumed on a daily basis,” explained Densie Webb, Ph.D., R.D., registered dietitian, columnist and co-author of the book “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!”

Our bodies have their own natural defense mechanisms, which protect us from invading “bad” bacteria and viruses. One major component of the body’s defense system is immune function. About 70 percent of the body’s immune system is located in the digestive tract, where specialized cells play an important role as a first line of defense against invading bacteria.

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