Whilst antibiotics are intended to destroy bacteria that are considered to be causing infections, they ultimately impact all bacteria in our gut regardless of the species or function of that bacteria.
Our body requires a balanced gut microbiome to support digestive function, immunity, and other key functions, and antibiotics can have fundamental effects on our health and lead to digestive and other symptoms.
The bacteria or live cultures found in supplements and fermented foods can act as 'proxies' or substitutes for some of the bacteria species in our digestive tract. Some bacteria species can be found in fermented foods, such as plain live yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented vegetables, although the strains of bacteria in these foods are often not specified.
These live cultures are also available in supplement form, usually as identifiable and named strains that have been isolated and fermented for commercial use.