|
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a "friendly" type of bacteria
used to make yogurt and cheese. We are born without it, acidophilus
soon establishes itself in our intestines and helps prevent intestinal
infections. Acidophilus also flourishes in the vagina, where it
protects women against yeast infections. Acidophilus is one of several
microbes known as probiotics (meaning "pro life") meaning
that they are bacteria and yeasts that help our body. Other friendly
bacteria include: L. bulgaricus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, L. casei,
B. bifidus, S. salivarius, and S. thermophilus and the yeast
Saccharomyces boulardii. Your digestive tract is like an ecosystem,
with billions of bacteria and yeasts rather than plants and animals.
Some of these internal inhabitants are more helpful to your body than
others.
Acidophilus and related probiotics not only help the
digestive tract function, they also reduce the presence of less
healthful organisms by competing with them for the limited space
available. Antibiotics can disturb the balance of your body ecosystem
by killing friendly bacteria. When this happens, harmful bacteria and
yeasts can move in and flourish. This is why women taking antibiotics
sometimes develop vaginal infections. Conversely, it appears that the
regular use of probiotics can help prevent vaginal infections and
generally improve the health of the gastrointestinal system. Whenever
you take antibiotics, you should probably take probiotics as well, and
continue them for some time after you are done with the course of
treatment. There is reason to believe that regular use of probiotics
can reduce your risk of developing infectious diarrhea while traveling
especially when going thru other countries. Probiotics may also help
prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics, as well as help prevent and
treat childhood diarrhea.
Immune System
A number of studies suggest that various probiotics like
acidophilus can enhance immune function.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
People suffering with irritable bowel
syndrome have digestive pain as well as constipation, diarrhea and
other problems. Although the exact cause of Irritable bowel syndrome
is unknown, one possibility is a problem with healthy intestinal
bacteria. Based upon this idea, probiotics have been tried as a
treatment for lBS. In a 4-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial
of 30 individuals with lBS, treatment with L. plantarum reduced
intestinal gas significantly. The benefits lasted one year after
treatment was stopped.
Vaginal Yeast Infections
A review of the many studies on the use of oral and topical
acidophilus to prevent vaginal yeast
infections concluded that it may be effective, but more study is
needed.
SAFETY ISSUES
There are no known safety problems with the use of acidophilus or
other probiotics. Sometimes people notice a temporary increase in
digestive gas.
NOTE:
If you are taking antibiotics, it may help to take probiotic/acidophilus
supplements at the same time, and to continue them for a couple of
weeks after you have finished the drug treatment. This will help
restore the balance of natural bacteria in your digestive tract that
is killed by the antibiotics.
|
Natural Health
Products
click here to read more
Advertisement |