Probiotics are popular in the natural health community, and medical research is backing up the power and potential of these good bacteria.

While more evidence-based scientific research is needed to determine exactly how many ways probiotics, or live microorganisms that have beneficial impacts, can both treat and fight disease, some benefits have already been shown, particularly for gastrointestinal issues.

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Here are five benefits of probiotics proven by research:

1. Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease: More than 5,600 strains or types of bacteria live in your gut on a regular basis, LiveScience reported. Because your gut flora is some of the densest around, much research has been focused on how effective probiotics are in gut health. Several studies have shown that probiotics can help with the bloating and gas associated with irritable bowel syndrome, Berkley Health said. Smaller studies, reported by Harvard Health, have shown the good bacteria may help to fight relapses in Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.

2. Diarrhea: Numerous studies have shown the benefits of taking probiotics to fight off diarrhea sometimes, including one in 2012 that showed probiotics lowered the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 42 percent, Berkley Health said. Dr. Dan Thomas, who was co-author of an extensive report about using probiotics for pediatrics, told Medscape that numerous randomized control studies support the use of probiotics for controlling diarrhea, including shortening the bouts of the condition.

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3. Your immune system: Berkley reported a number of studies that found certain probiotic strains boost immune response, but it’s still unclear whether that actually helps to fight off colds and flus. Another initial study found they may help prevent colds and upper respiratory infections.

4. Allergies: Probiotics may help reduce the chance you’ll sneeze your way through allergy season. LiveScience reported that 17 of 23 studies found people who took probiotics had some reduction in their symptoms, while six studies found no impact. Other significant studies found that women who took probiotics during their pregnancy reduced the risk of their children developing allergies, Mercola reported.

5. Peanut allergies: Exciting Australian research in 2014 gave hope to peanut allergy sufferers. Although not definitive, a study found about 80 percent of children who took a course of probiotics along with peanut protein were eventually able to eat at least small amounts of peanuts without an allergic reaction.

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