“Certain strains were found useful in preventing diarrhea among children being prescribed antibiotics … There’s also evidence that they may help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (a serious gastrointestinal condition) and death in preterm infants.” Other than that, the benefits of probiotics are mostly wishful thinking. NYT Upshot: The Problem With Probiotics.

+ The Atlantic: Superfoods Are a Marketing Ploy. (Full disclosure: Sometimes I link to a series of stories just to make me feel better about my Funyuns habit.)