Bad bacteria are plentiful but did you know that there are good bacteria around as well? Good bacteria come in the form of what is known as probiotics. Probiotic as a definition means “for life”. These are living microorganisms which when taken orally have many beneficial effects on the body. The most commonly used probiotic (also known as friendly bacteria) is called Lactobacillus Acidophilus.

Most bacteria are given first and last names, much the same way people are. In this case Lactobacillus is the genus (or general) name of the bacteria and Acidophilus, as the last name, is the particular strain. It is also sometime referred to as its shorter form, L. Acidophilus. If you have never heard of this friendly bacteria before then let me tell you about it and how it can contribute to a healthier way of living for yourself and your family.

Unfortunately over the years bacteria have earned a bad reputation because they are more often than not associated with disease. The truth is we need bacteria for our bodies to function properly. Friendly bacteria exist in the intestines to help aid in the digestive process and to prevent the growth of unwanted microorganisms, including Candida yeast overgrowth and bad bacteria that can cause illness.

Deficiencies in the body of healthy or friendly bacteria can occur in the case of sickness, bad eating habits and prolonged use of antibiotics. In order to restore the balance of necessary bacteria, a person can choose to either increase the amount of fermented foods they ingest and/or take supplements.

Both are worthwhile options to consider. Friendly bacteria can be found in fermented foods such as cheese and yogurt. In the case of yogurt, always look for the words “live culture” or “contains Acidophilus” on the container as often bacterial cultures are destroyed during the preparation phase in order to increase shelf life of the products.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus can be found living in the mouth, the small and large intestines and the Vagina. Among its uses it can reduce cholesterol levels and the growth of hostile yeasts such as Candida albicans; it destroys bad bacteria by producing natural antibiotic substances and it can also enhance the breakdown of milk sugar (lactose) by producing an enzyme called lactase.

It is estimated that there are several trillion friendly bacteria comprising over four hundred species in the average human gastrointestinal tract. By body weight, each of us carries around approximately four pounds of intestinal microflora.

Characteristics of a Probiotic

In order to qualify as a probiotic, L. Acidophilus must adhere to these characteristics- it must provide beneficial function, easy cultivation, adhesion, population stability and it must be non-pathogenicity.
Next to conventional pharmaceutical treatments, probiotic therapy has very few side effects.

What About Other Important Uses for Lactobacillus Acidophilus?

But the attributes of this probiotic don’t end there. Lactobacillus Acidophilus has many important functions and offer a variety of therapeutic uses. Some of these uses include:

-enhancing the natural response of the immune system (Lactobacillus Acidophilus counteracts damage done to the human body due to antibiotic use (or overuse) and stimulates the immune system to function better when you’re healthy, but when you are ill, they also have the unique ability to contribute greatly to relief of health problems ranging from Diarrhea and mild indigestion to liver and colon Cancer.)

• significantly lower the risk of allergies, in particular food allergies associated with milk, also Asthma, hay Fever, and skin reactions such as Eczema and psoriasis
• -aid in lowering cholesterol levels
• -alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and also inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease)
• -improve the absorption of lactose in individuals who are lactose intolerant (Lactobacillus Acidophilus produces lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose (or milk sugar) into simple sugars. Lactose intolerant people do not produce this enzyme and therefore would benefit tremendously from taking probiotic supplements)
• -reduce the risk of recurrence of tumors in the bladder once the Cancer has been treated
• -work to help treat respiratory infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis
• -prevent and/or reduce the recurrence of Urinary Tract Infections, cystitis (bladder inflammation) and vaginal yeast infections

Sources

As previously mentioned, two of the best dietary sources for L. Acidophilus include cheese and yogurt. It cannot be stressed enough, when it comes to yogurt make sure the brand you choose contains live cultures. Always check the label on the packaging because some brands of yogurt contain a higher concentration of cultures than others. Some brands of milk contain this probiotic but once again, check the packaging. It must say “enriched with Acidophilus” to be so. Other dietary sources many people are unaware of include miso and tempeh. In case you are not familiar with either one of these foods, miso is a concentrated savory paste made from soybeans. An other way to describe miso is it is a fermented bean paste. Tempeh is a tender, chunky cake of fermented soybeans that is an essential of everyday Indonesian cooking. Notice how many times the word “fermented” comes up in regard to Lactobacillus Acidophilus. 

Where is it Sold?

Probiotics are sold in most vitamin stores and wherever nutritional supplements can be found. Grocery stores and pharmacies often have a special section set aside for these items, as they become more and more part of our mainstream health awareness. If you are unsure where to find them ask an available pharmacist or nutritionist. He or she should be willing and able to point you in the right direction of the probiotics and get you on the road to better health, not to mention speedier recovery time from sickness.

Probiotic supplements contain large amounts of bacteria and are the preferred choice in guaranteeing the repopulation of friendly bacteria in the system. Supplements work to their optimum levels when taken on a regular basis and must always be refrigerated, especially after opening.

Precautions and Possible Interactions

As with any supplement you ingest, there is always the risk of side effects and interactions with other medications as everyone’s body reacts differently to substances. With this in mind, dietary supplements should be taken only under the careful supervision of a trained and knowledgeable doctor and/or healthcare provider.

In some people who consume more than 1 to 2 billion Lactobacillus Acidophilus cells per day, mild gastrointestinal upset may take place. However this is not very likely to happen to individuals who are not presently taking any form of antibiotics.

If a person is currently being treated with Sulfasalazine, (Sulfasalazine is a sulfa medicine, that is used to prevent and treat inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. It is often used to treat rheumatoid Arthritis in patients who have not been helped by, or who cannot tolerate other medicine for their condition. It is also referred to as Azulfidine.) they should not commence taking probiotic supplements until they first discuss it with their doctor. Laboratory studies have suggested that L. Acidophilus speeds up the metabolism of the drug Sulfasalazine but at present the significance of this information is not completely known. More studies need to be done.

References

BOOKS

Gursche, Siegfried, MH and Rona, Zoltan, MD, MSc. (1997). Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. Burnaby, BC, Alive Publishing, Inc.

Martin, Jeanne Marie and Rona, Zoltan, MD, MSc. (1996). The Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook. Rocklin, CA, Prima Books.

Murray, Frank (1999). Acidophilus and Your Health. New York, McGraw-Hill.

Webster, David (2000). Acidophilus and Colon Health: The Natural Way to Prevent Disease. New York, Kensington.

WEBSITES

ConsumerLab.com-Probiotic Supplements and Foods
www.consumerlab.com/results/probiotics.asp

Danisco HOWARU Consumer Questions & Answers
http://www.howaru.com/consumer_qanda.html (2001)

Dayton Daily News
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
http://www.daytondailynews.com/health/altmed/shared/he…/Lactobacillusacidophiluscs.htm (2002)

Six Live Cultures
www.stonyfield.com/HealthyPeople/SixLiveActiveCultures.shtml

By Anika Logan