We are born with a sterile digestive tract, but almost right away our guts begin to be colonized by different species of bacteria, through the milk we drink, the food we eat, the environmental toxins we are exposed to, and the daily stressors we encounter. Most of these bacteria are completely harmless, and some are, in fact, very beneficial. One of the main purposes of healthy bacteria is to take up space so that the bad bugs cannot begin to grow out of control. When these bad bugs do get out of control and begin to sway the balance of more bad bugs than good, your bodys digestive tract becomes imbalanced. Lean & Pure Extra Strength Delayed Released Prebiotic & Probiotic offers the live bacteria of a probiotic, combined with the bacterial energy sourcing of a prebiotic to help deliver optimal digestive health. Probiotics are a type of good bacteria in the intestinal tract that aid in digestion and immune functions. Prebiotics are non-digestible components of our diet that are fermented in the colon, increasing the growth of good bacteria. Because our intestines account for over 70% of our immune system, we cannot overlook the important connection between the health, integrity, and bacterial balance of the gut wall. This "essential ecosystem" provides an important balance between health and bacteria in the body. Therefore, it is important to focus on rmaintaining a healthy balance of intestinal flora with probiotics and prebiotics.