Lactobacillus acidophilus is a lactic acid producing bacteria. Some scientists think that acidophilus have beneficial effects on digestion and overall health. Acidophilus can be found in yogurt and other dairy products, which named acidophilus as probiotics.
Acidophilus aids the digestive system, because different factors decrease the number of lactic acid producing bacteria that live and work in the gastrointestinal tract and protect us from harmful disease-causing bacteria. Among these factors, it is possible to find narcotics, alcohol, diet deficiencies, aging, antibiotics, drugs, medications, nicotine, and stressful living.
The digestion of food begins in the alimentary canal, mouth and stomach, and finally in the intestines, where millions of microorganisms, working simultaneously, metabolize the partially-digested food. Digestion can be impaired, short-changing us of the full nutritional value from foods, if there is too small a colony of L. acidophilus and other friendly bacteria, such as L. bulgaricus and L. bifidus. Also, a fewer quantity of key vitamins will be synthesized, and the immune system may be rendered less effective.
According to some health professionals, acidophilus aids the digestive process, helps correct constipation, diarrhea, mucous colitis and diverticulitis. It also reduces blood cholesterol, enhances the absorption of nutrients, sweetens bad breath, treats acne and other skin disorders, conquers harmful bacteria and certain viruses, helps alleviate candidiasis and other vaginal infections, and may even prevent cancer.
There is no solid scientific evidence for these claims according to some experts, but lactic acid-producing microorganisms, such as L. acidophilus, have been called a second immune system, because they put the brakes on growth of disease-causing bacteria, such as shigella-caused dysentery and salmonella and various types of diarrhea.
Acidophilus May Help Patients with Small-Bowel Obstruction
A study carried out by the National Taiwan University Hospital and the National Taiwan University, College of Medicine in Taipei, determined that patients with partial bowel obstruction may improve with oral intake of laxatives, acidophilus, and simethicone.
According to some specialists, patients with partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction are usually managed conservatively, receiving intravenous hydration and nothing by mouth. Previous studies have suggested that this approach is associated with longer hospital stays and an increased risk of delayed surgery, as reports Shyr-Chyr Chen, MD, from National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine in Taipei, and colleagues.
From 144 consecutive patients with adhesive partial small-bowel obstruction that was admitted between February 2000 and July 2001, 128 met the inclusion criteria and were randomized to either the intervention group -IV hydration, nasogastric (NG)-tube decompression, and oral therapy with magnesium oxide, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and simethicone- or to the control group (IV hydration, NG-tube decompression, and nothing by mouth).
Most of the patients were men, whose age was 54.4 ± 15.9 years in the control group and 53.9 ± 16.3 years in the intervention group. A 91 percent of patients in the intervention group and 76 percent of patients in the control group had successful treatment without surgery.
Oral therapy with magnesium oxide, L. acidophilus and simethicone was effective in hastening the resolution of conservatively treated partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction and shortening the hospital stay,” the authors write. “Further trials with larger patient samples are needed to verify the value of oral therapy for partial adhesive small-bowel obstructions observed in this study, the experts report.
Acidophilus Supplements May Help Million People with Digestive Diseases
According to the National Digestive Disease information clearinghouse in Bethesda, MD, 60 to 70 million Americans suffer from digestive diseases; however, acidophilus supplements may help them to diminish their digestive conditions.
Procedures of current commercial food processing can destroy viable beneficial organisms, making it difficult for the body to maintain good intestinal flora. Even the majority of yogurt products no longer contain a viable acidophilus culture. Poor intestinal flora is, at times, due to preservatives, additives, alcohol, high-fat diets, birth control pills, and stress.
Intestinal flora is often damage by antibiotics drugs, which kill all kinds of bacteria, both good and bad. Antibiotic effects on intestinal flora can last for weeks, even after the drug is discontinued. This situation may lead to allergies, fatigue, yeast overgrowth, poor digestion and chronic infections, among other things.
Beneficial bacteria can be reintroduced into the system by acidophilus supplements. Acidophilus supplementation has important benefits not only for digestive system, according to experts, such as: Keeping constipation and diarrhea under control; reduction of bad breath; counteracting lactose intolerance by its association with lactase; cholesterol control by promoting normal absorption of dietary fats; reduction of internal gas; suppression of candida yeast; prevention of intestinal contamination from infectious organisms common in some foreign countries; and suppression of a number of intestinal disorders.
Acidophilus contains bacteria that have a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationship with the human stomach. It is a nutritional supplement product, which is often added to milk or other dairy products, or it is also sold as a capsule.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-eating-vegetable-salad-5425879/