Supplement ~ Acidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus)

• Treats chronic gastrointestinal tract disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, recurrent gas and bloating, and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Controls vaginal yeast infections.

Yogurt, the traditional source of acidophilus, has been used as an elixir in folk medicine for hundreds, and very possibly thousands, of years.It can be difficult, however, to determine how much acidophilus is really in yogurt.When using supplements, read labels carefully: A therapeutic form should contain at least 1 billion organisms in each pill; smaller amounts may not be potent enough to have beneficial effects.Acidophilus is sometimes sold in combination with bifidus or with another ingredient that promotes the growth of friendly bacteria called FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides).

• FLORA FIBER
• AMPM 21 DAY HERBAL CLEANSE

• Capsule
• Tablet
• Liquid
• Douche
• Suppository
• Powder

• A recent study showed that eating yogurt containing live acidophilus greatly reduced the recurrence of vaginal yeast infections.The women in the study ate 8 ounces of yogurt every day for six months.Researchers theorize that additional acidophilus bacteria grow in the vaginal canal, bolstering the normal Lactobacilli flora but leaving no room for the growth of yeast.
• When used in a recent study of patients undergoing cancer radiation treatments, acidophilus prevented the diarrhea that is a typical side effect of this therapy.Patients drank a fermented milk product containing live acidophilus bacteria daily.

• If you have a vaginal infection for the first time, see your doctor before treating it yourself.Acidophilus is useful against the yeast Candida albicans, but has little effect on other types of vaginal problems and may worsen their symptoms.
• Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Indeed, acidophilus may be especially useful for anyone taking antibiotics to treat an infection.A healthy colon should contain about 85% Lactobacilli (including acidophilus and bifidus) and 14% coliform bacteria (including healthy types of E. coli and other bacterial strains).In many people - and particularly those on antibiotics - these counts can be upset, causing flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and poor absorption of nutrients.Acidophilus creates an inhospitable environment for harmful types of E. coli, as well as for salmonella, steptococcus, and many other strains of bacteria that can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

Moreover, studies in animals suggest that acidophilus may be valuable in combating some cancers.When given to patients surgically treated for bladder cancer, acidophilus helped prevent the recurrence of single tumors.This result may have occurred because acidophilus prevents harmful bacteria from creating cancer-causing substances when the bacteria react with foods.Acidophilus may also lower blood cholesterol levels.Certain strains of these bacteria absorb cholesterol in the intestine before it reaches the arteries and does damage.