Yes it is discouraging that lacto does not colonize the gut on a permanent basis. That does not mean that probiotics do not provide a service to the body. Probiotics does provide digestive assistance and an environment that encourages the beneficial bacteria to grow and repopulate especially that it creates a more acidic environment for them to grow in. That said, why take store bot probiotics when you can make homemade sauerkraut that adds so much more than just probiotics alone. Of course it provides infinitely more probiotics like l plantaram but also provides needed nutrition. Stuff that helps the immune system within the gut as well as the gut in general. Antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins like C and minerals.