Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) is a type of probiotic ("good" bacteria) found in the digestive tract. It produces lactic acid in the gut.
"Good" bacteria such as S. thermophilus can help break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off "bad" organisms that might cause diseases. S. thermophilus is commonly used to produce fermented dairy foods such as yogurt. It is also used in probiotic supplements.
People use S. thermophilus for diarrhea, constipation, colic, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using S. thermophilus for COVID-19.
Don't confuse S. thermophilus with other probiotics, or with fermented food products such as fermented milk, kefir, or yogurt. These are not the same.
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