With all the products lately boasting "antibacterial" and "antimicrobial," can there be such a thing as good germs? Some bacteria, called probiotics, are actually very beneficial for your health. Thankfully they've been getting more mainstream attention lately, and you may even start seeing them advertised on food labels (think yogurt) in the grocery store.

Probiotics help with the absorption of nutrients, production of vitamin K, and even help crowd out populations of unhealthy types of bacteria. They can be particularly beneficial for people who have just finished antibiotic therapy, since antibiotics kill the good guys along with the bad.

Probiotics have also been shown to have positive effects on conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and chronic constipation. Think maybe probiotics are for you? Although they are widely available in stores, they can be expensive and may or may not greatly benefit you. It's probably a good idea to consult with your doctor first, and see if in your specific situation it's worth dropping the extra cash.