Probiotics may be one of the biggest health trends of the year, but what people may not realize is that certain conditions call for certain types of the live bacteria.

While one probiotic may help with the side effects of an antibiotic, it may not be as effective for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

University of Washington epidemiologist Lynne McFarland, who co-authored The Power of Probiotics, told CNN.com antibiotics can "open up a window of opportunity for pathogens to move in."

To combat this, three specific probiotics can be used: S. cerevisiae boulardii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Bacillus coagulans GBI-30.

Research has also shown S. cerevisiae boulardii can assist people who are traveling and want to avoid developing diarrhea caused by parasites and infectious bacteria in unsanitary water. Taking this probiotic can help reduce people’s risk of the condition.

Finally for IBS sufferers, health experts have suggested taking two probiotic strains: Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 and L. plantarum DSM9843. While it may not cure the condition, they have been shown to reduce the severity of one’s symptoms.

While some yogurts contain probiotics, for certain strains people may want to look into nutritional supplements as an alternative.