Are probiotics in yogurt a gimmick?

Vox reader Ellen sent in the question: Are probiotic yogurts a gimmick? Aren’t all yogurts probiotic? Is calling it probiotic just a ploy to get you to pay more for yogurt?

Ellen didn’t leave a way to get in contact with her, but it’s a good question! So we thought we’d get to the bottom of it, on behalf of all Ellen’s who may have ever wondered this same thing.

In this video, we break down what probiotics actually are, whether they do what they claim, and how yogurt fits into the picture. Are all yogurts probiotic? Are probiotics even worth it? Or is it all just a marketing scam?

To find out, I talked to a few experts, dug into the research, and ate more yogurt than I thought possible.