14 Health Challenges Acidophilus May Help You With But One Concern You May Want to Consider

It has been thought that Acidophilus may help you with a few health issues including ...

1) vaginal infections and urinary tract infections

2) when taking antibiotics, help to maintain a healthy intestinal environment and intestinal tract

3) helping you deal with lactose intolerance

4) aiding you with irritable bowel syndrome

5) helping to deal with candida

6) dealing with thrush

7) assisting with weight loss and helping to keep you from gaining weight

8) aiding with constipation

9) helping to clear up acne

10) dealing with diarrhea

11) helping with canker sores

12) neutralizing halitosis and bad breath

13) boosting the immune system

14) Aiding digestion issues in dogs

What is acidophilus?
   
Acidophilus is one of the friendly bacteria that is present in some foods and also in your intestines. These friendly bacteria help you to properly digest food and include L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, and others. Acidophilus feeds on sugars and convert these to, amongst other things, lactic acid.

This lactic acid gives some foods their unique taste and lowers the PH of that food so that other not so friendly flora find the environment created by the reduced PH to be not friendly. This helps to preserve these foods.

An example of foods containing acidophilus include yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, as well as other fermented foods. Acidophilus in the body can help to protect against unfriendly bacteria and parasites.

During breakdown, helpful substances such as hydrogen peroxide is released helping to create an environment unfavorable to these unfriendly bacteria. Also, chemicals are produced which aid in healthy digestive processes.

-What is acidophilus with bifidus?

Bilfidus along with acidophilus and other friendly intestinal bacteria are classified as probiotic complex. Bilfidus resides primarily in the large intestine whereas acidophilus resides primarily in the small intestine. The group of friendly bacteria classified as probiotics have different jobs that keep you healthy.

Some will aid the digestive process by aiding in the breakdown of food along with the release of nutrients. Others keep the wrong things from being absorbed into your blood stream.

-What is acidophilus probiotic complex?

Acidophilus probiotic complex is a dietary or health supplement containing live bacteria. These live bacteria help assist you with the healthy and complete digestion of the foods you eat. Acidophilus is one type of live bacteria culture out of 20 strains are thought to aid in the regulation of digestion in your intestines.

-What are acidophilus pearls?

The term Acidophilus Pearls has been trademarked and is a combination of two friendly bacteria probiotics. These two are Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Acidophilus Pearls are pearl shaped capsules and are marketed as being easy to swallow and also are said to be guaranteed to survive stomach acids allowing the probiotics to pass into the intestines where they are released.

-Benefits and advantages of lactobacillus acidophilus

Lactobacillus acidophilus,  L. acidophilus, or simply acidophilus is a beneficial and friendly bacteria that when living in your intestine, results in many types of benefits. Acidophilus produces lactase. Lactase is an enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of sugar found in milk.

Lactose intolerant folks cannot produce lactase. Acidophilus has been shown to be beneficial in many ways. For instance, a healthy colony in one's intestine has been shown to treat and prevent diarrhea and helps mitigate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It has also been shown to help with urinary tract infections and vaginal yeast infections as well as helping to reduce the overgrowth of digestive system pathogens. It has also been shown to help with Crohn's disease and possible reduce incidence of certain respiratory infections such as bronchitis and sinusitis.

-Is acidophilus in the vagina good for yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTI)?
   
It is thought that by consuming acidophilus through the consumption of supplements and or foods such as some yogurt products, a women's vaginal bacterial balance can be restored. Acidophilus produces lactic acid and it is lactic acid which creates a healthy lower PH environment that may prevent the growth of Candida albicans.

This is the fungus that results in vaginal yeast infection. Some studies seem to suggest that acidophilus vaginal suppositories or vaginal inserts may be effective in treating bacterial vaginosis

-When taking antibiotics acidophilus helps maintain healthy intestinal environment and intestinal tract

Antibiotics though effective in killing harmful bacteria that makes you sick, also has the unfortunate side effect of killing friendly bacteria as well. During and after a regimen of antibiotics, folks are often instructed to add acidophilus one's diet either through ingestion of yogurt or supplementation to help recolonize these friendly bacteria.

-Can acidophilus be used to used for lactose intolerance?

Folks that are lactose intolerant do not have the ability to digest lactose which is the sugar that is in dairy products. These people that are lactose intolerant have a shortage of an enzyme called lactase. Lactase breaks down lactose into simple sugars that enables it to be easily digested.

Acidophilus is a lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria helps break down lactose to enable it to be easily digest in the colon. The Journal of the American Dietetic Association in a survey conducted in 2000-2002 with 61,587 folks between the ages of 50 and 70, found that acidophilus for lactose intolerance was one of the major reasons that folks gave for taking a supplement for a specific health condition.

-Does acidophilus help irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a condition of large intestine muscles not contracting as they should. This can result in severe discomfort and be accompanied by constipation, diarrhea, cramping, and gas. Some studies, but not all, have shown that friendly bacteria or probiotics can be helpful in aiding one's digestive system to function properly helping to relieve IBS symptoms such as pain, constipation, and gas.

-Does acidophilus help with candida?

Acidophilus helps control candida by creating conditions in your intestine that lowers PH and making the environment more acidic. This environment discourages the growth of candid. In addition, acidophilus produces hydrogen peroxide that aids in killing candida. Acidophilus can be found in some yogurts (read the label) as well as supplements found in your health food store.

-What is the standard acidophilus dosage?

For adults 18 and older, it is thought that a dosage between 1 and 10 billion live L. acidophilus bacteria  be taken on a daily basis by dividing up over perhaps a 3x regimen. Doses larger than this may cause some mild discomfort in the abdomen. If you are suffering from vaginal bacteria infection, a dose that has been found effective in some cases has been 8 ounces of yogurt containing 100 million CFU or colony forming units per milliliter. On study used capsules containing 1.5 grams of  Lactobacillus.

-Is acidophilus good for thrush?

Thrush is an overgrowth of a type of yeast called Candida albicans. Thrush is thought to be caused by  stress or use of antibiotics which kill the bacteria in our bodies including the good bacteria that is helpful in controlling this overgrowth of yeast. The addition of acidophilus through probiotics is thought to be helpful in replenishing and recolonizing this good bacteria.

-Will acidophilus help with weight loss?

Although there have been no real evidence supporting the rumor that acidophilus supports weight loss, it is still felt that due to its digestive promoting properties that it is still a good idea to consider adding it to your diet if you are attempting to lose weight.

-Does acidophilus provide help for constipation?

Constipation is passing small hard bowel movements that only occur a few times per week. Constipation is thought to be primarily caused by low consumption  of fiber a found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It can also be caused by conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and colitis. Some studies have shown  that folks suffering from chronic constipation showed improvement with Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation.

-Can acidophilus help with acne?

Author Poonam Jain  states that in "All You Wanted to Know About Acne,"  harmful bacteria buildup in one's gastrointestinal tract can result in unhealthy consequences throughout your body. This can include acne flare-ups. He points to today's lifestyle from excessive consumption of processed foods to chlorinated water, to antibiotics as responsible for the depletion of acidophilus levels and suggests building friendly bacteria levels back up though supplementation.

-Does acidophilus get rid of diarrhea?

Bacteria can be caused by a number of conditions as well a a number of pathogens. We talked about the conditions that may be responsible for diarrhea earlier in this article. One of the conditions that may cause diarrhea may be intestinal imbalances and disruptions of the good bacteria that reside in the intestines. The proliferation of unfriendly bacteria causes a  list of other health challenges including diarrhea.

-Will acidophilus help with  halitosis and bad breath?

Digestive problems, issues, and imbalances can cause a myriad of problems when it comes to causes of bad breath or halitosis. Although this treatise is beyond the scope of the causes of bad breath, a healthy digestive system is thought to be a big start to alleviating halitosis.

-Will acidophilus help improve my immune system?

Why has acidophilus been labeled by some as your "second immune system?"  Without acidophilus it has been thought by most, the foods you eat will not be digested properly. Also it is thought that lactic-acid producing microorganisms like L. acidophilus significantly retards the growth of such bacteria that cause diseases like shigella-caused dysentery and salmonella as well as flu caused by virus and diarrhea.

-Should I give acidophilus to my pets (cats and dogs)?

Some folks think that probiotic supplements may help you to deal with dogs that may be experiencing issues including diarrhea, foul gas, foul breath, and foul smelling stools. These conditions may be the result of illness, stress, or antibiotics. As a human, the digestive health of a dog may be lacking in good and beneficial bacteria. Please check with your Veterinarian before giving your dog acidophilus.

-Is acidophilus safe? What about possible side effects or potential risks?

It is thought that one cannot take too much acidophilus. However you can waste your money on acidophilus products that have expired or strains that will not survive the acidic route through the stomach towards the intestines.

-It has been thought that acidophilus could be contaminated with toxic metals and no regulated manufacturing standards

 It is possible that acidophilus might not be manufactured according to regulated manufacturing standards. Please be aware that acidophilus "has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of lactobacillus acidophilus may not be known.

Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs." Be sure to check the reputation of the manufacturer of the acidophilus you purchase.

-Are there any acidophilus drug interactions?

If you are currently on any prescription drug or are pregnant or are nursing, or if you have any medical condition, or even if you are healthy, please do not begin taking acidophilus without first checking with your health care provider/professional.