If you have heard of acidophilus, and are wondering exactly what acidophilus benefits you could expect if you began to take a supplement containing this bacteria, then read on, because in this article, we look at acidophilus benefits, as well as what acidophilus is, acidophilus dosage, side effects and where it is found.
What Is Acidophilus?
Before we get into the benefits of acidophilus, it is important to understand what, exactly, acidophilus is. Acidophilus is a form of harmful or beneficial bacteria, which occurs naturally in the human mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vagina, and in the human body, it is best known function is to prevent yeast infections, since it creates acid that causes the fungus to die, keeping it in check, and avoiding over production of Candida.
There are plenty of other acidophilus benefits, however, and in the next section, we look at what they are.
Other Acidophilus Benefits
Aside from assisting in preventing yeast infections, acidophilus supplements have been shown to have plenty of other benefits for humans too.
For instance, it has been shown to reduce the intensity and incidence of pediatric diarrhea. It also assists in the digestion of lactose in lactose intolerant or lactose sensitive patients. This means that it can be safely used in children and even babies who have gastrointestinal distress – even those with milk allergies, which are one of the most common in early childhood.
Acidophilus, when taken in conjunction with antibiotics, will prevent the antibiotics from sparking off a yeast infection, by replacing the beneficial bacteria that the antibiotics kill off, and it assists in the production of vitamin K, lactase, and other essential products of the human body. Eating or taking acidophilus regularly will also help to keep the Candida that is naturally present in most of our body’s in check, and prevent other problems, like systemic candiasis.
Acidophilus can also be helpful in treating all forms of IBS, although people who have a lactose sensitivity or intolerance should look for supplements that don’t contain dairy for this sort of treatment.
Not only does acidophilus help to prevent both constipation and diarrhea, it can also help to prevent colon and bowel cancer, and it’s been shown, in studies, to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, thanks to it’s cholesterol fighting properties.
Acidophilus Dosage
For adults, people who are 18 years and older, a dose between 1 and 10 billion viable (live) L. acidophilus bacteria taken daily in divided doses. Higher doses may cause mild abdominal discomfort, and smaller doses may not be able to establish a stable population of bacteria in the gut.
For individuals who are younger than 18 years of age, a 1/4 teaspoon or 1/4 capsule of L. acidophilus may be safe for use in children for the replacement of gut bacteria destroyed by antibiotics. Take L. acidophilus supplements two hours after antibiotic doses, as antibiotics will wipe out Acidophilus if taken at the same time.
Consult a qualified health-care practitioner prior to using L. acidophilus in children, and use cautiously in those under three years of age.
Acidophilus side effects may include an increase in stomach gas, but usually goes away with continued treatment. Many people who use acidophilus do not have serious side effect. And while an allergic reaction is unlikely, if you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction such as a rash, itching/swelling. dizziness or trouble breathing – seek medical attention immediately.
Where to Find Acidophilus?
The simplest way to get acidophilus into your diet is to eat more yogurt, as this is one of the bacteria used to culture the yogurt during manufacture.
There are also powders, tablets, capsules, liquid and other forms of acidophilus out there, so if you do not like yogurt, but want to get the acidophilus benefits mentioned in this article, then there are ways to get them. This is especially useful if you are lactose intolerant, and you need to avoid dairy products.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get acidophilus benefits in your life, quickly and easily, whether you can or cannot eat yogurt. So make the decision to improve your life by taking acidophilus and getting acidophilus benefits every day.