Well, stomach acid doesn't destroy EVERYTHING--the nutrients your system gets from your food is how your body is able to operate, otherwise you cells wouldn't have energy to carry out vital tasks and reproduce and you'd die. I can tell you from experience that Activia worked wonders for me. I've never tried the cheese though.

I watched a programme on TV on this very thing and in a nut shell it said your own body produces enough good bacteria and there is no need to top up with these products its a waste of time and money,the only group of people it might help was people with Crones disease.

I think it is more a hype and a marketing argument. I hope it were not even harmful in the long run. 1) Here some arguments against them: "Criticism Some mainstream researchers in Europe as well as in the United States are skeptical of some of the claims made for probiotics. Their reasons include the following considerations: The studies done in support of probiotics are mostly anecdotal or heavily reliant on test-tube experimentation rather than on clinical trials in human subjects The basic concept of probiotics is based on a misunderstanding of the role of microflora in the human digestive tract. It is difficult to see how bacteria taken by mouth can survive the process of human digestion (though research shows that they do, in fact, survive)" Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotics#Criticism 2) "The term 'probiotic' was coined by the food industry to describe microbes beneficial to health. Scientific criticism based on poorly characterised isolates, soft clinical targets, and an absence of a mechanistic framework limited value of this concept. Current clinical and animal model studies support a role for certain 'probiotics', activating the common mucosal system through the stimulation of gut antigen-presenting cells to both promote protection and to switch regulatory mechanisms. It is concluded that a new term is required to identify bacteria that promote health through driving mucosal immune mechanisms, compared to those with strictly local effects. The term 'immunobiotics' is suggested as appropriate to fulfil this need." Source: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1016/S0928-8244%2803%2900147-0?journalCode=fim

I am currently writing my dissertation on probiotics in particular the Actimel drinks. From my laboratory work I can tell you that the Lactobacillus casei bacterium can survive in pH3 gastric solution before they start to get killed off. The stomach pH varies from pH1-pH4 depending on whether food has been eaten or not. When you eat, the pH rises because of buffering proteins so I would hypothesise that to get the benefit of the probiotic, you should take it after a meal. However, I don't think there is any benefit in taking probiotics if you are healthy. There may be a benefit if you are on broad spectrum antibiotics that wipe out your natural flora because Lactobacillus casei are resistant to Vancomycin and Metranizamole. There have been clinical trials to show positive effects with C.diff patients and the elderly suffering with winter infections. its an interesting topic!

They work as long as you keep eating them everyday, but who wants to have to do that.

Nope... probiotics are able to survive in low pH. But a regular intake is important for results.

I think that any yogurt with a live culture is beneficial. I don't believe you need to spend 2or3 times the price to get the ones that are pushing this.

Don't be taken in by the marketing. "Probiotics" are good for you, but good quality yogurt has always had them! Don't pay extra for "enhanced" products. You can also buy acidophilis capsules inexpensively and just take them or add them to various foods. Activia did not invent this concept!

Acidophilus and other good bacteria don't like dairy products so i don't know why they put them in yoghurt's and dairy drinks?? The best way to take good bacteria is at night, before you go to bed so they there is not much else going on in your stomach. Then the good bacteria can colonies. I find Solgar Advanced Acidophilus Vegicaps are the best for me.