Probiotics and your digestive system go hand-in-hand. They promote regularity and digestive comfort, while Acidophilus (a strain of Probiotics) optimizes nutrient absorption.** Probiotics also:**
- Help balance the internal environment.**
- Support intestinal function.**
- Enhance healthy immune system function.**
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that colonize the intestines.** Also known as beneficial bacteria or friendly flora, various strains of probiotics play a critical role in our well-being, promoting a range of important health benefits.** There are 400 different probiotic strains that inhabit the digestive tract. Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most prominent strain that’s taken in probiotic supplements form. Bifidobacterium is popular as well, though not as widely consumed as lactobacillus acidophilus.
Probiotics (which means "for life") neutralize harmful bacteria and microbes throughout the digestive tract.** Without probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus, harmful bacteria would reproduce unchecked, leading to an unbalanced internal environment that may be more vulnerable.** By neutralizing harmful bacteria and catabolic enzymes, lactobacillus acidophilus promotes digestive comfort.** It also supports robust immune system performance.**
Acidophilus probiotic plays a role in the gastrointestinal tract's motor function as well, helping the intestines to move food along while supporting a healthy mucosal lining.** Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotics help catalyze the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, too, enabling probiotic supplements to help enhance digestion and synthesis of other nutrients, ultimately supporting overall nutritional status.**
Probiotic Supplements
Perhaps most notable benefits of probiotic supplements are for digestive health and comfort.** Probiotics supplements also promote easy regularity as well.**
Probiotic levels may decline with the use of antibiotics and some immunosuppressive therapies. Introduction of live probiotics via supplementation (or via probiotic yogurt or other probiotic foods) is intended to promote re-colonization of the intestinal tract, supporting a balanced intestinal environment.** By stabilizing the intestinal environment, the best probiotic strains promote far-reaching probiotics benefits for digestion, immunity and overall well-being.** Prebiotics are substances that encourage probiotics to thrive, and may also be taken in supplement form.**
Probiotic Directions for Use
Probiotic supplements are usually taken in servings that deliver 1 to 2 billion viable lactobacillus acidophilus cells (also known as good bacteria CFUs, or colony forming units) daily. Lactobacillus probiotics for children are safe and effective, but should not be given to children under the age of 3 without a doctor’s permission. For children, dosage can be up to 1 billion lactobacillus acidophilus CFUs daily. Always consult with your health care provider before taking lactobacillus acidophilus probiotics or starting any probiotic, lactobacillus acidophilus, or other nutritional supplement regimen.