Acidophilus and bifidus are naturally occurring bacteria found in your digestive tract. These same bacteria are available in food and supplements to provide health benefits. Acidophilus has been recommended to manage yeast infections and digestive complaints, such as gas and bloating. Bifidus increases other probiotic bacteria that colonize your gut and serve as a natural antibiotic and toxin neutralizer. Both bacteria can increase the amount of active vitamin K in your body to protect your bones.
Diarrhea
Acidophilus and bifidus can help you manage digestive issues, especially diarrhea, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Acidophilus and bifidus have been shown to lessen the severity of diarrhea caused by mild food poisoning, antibiotics and infections, according to Probiotic.org. Taking acidolphilus and bifidus to manage diarrhea decreases the number of active bad bacteria that can cause the diarrhea. Acidophilus can reduce the occurrence of diarrhea related to erythromycin therapy, a frequently used broad spectrum antibiotic. Bifidus produces acids from ingested carbohydrates to reduce the number of bad bacteria implanting in your digestive tract, as stated by Probiotic.org.
Vaginal Infections
Acidophilus is not only plentiful in your digestive tract, but grows in the vagina to protect against yeast overgrowth and infections from harmful bacteria. According to Probiotic.org, acidophilus produces acid in the vagina to decrease the overgrowth of yeast in the vagina. Candida albicans is a species of yeast that colonizes in the vagina. By decreasing the pH of the vagina and making it more acidic, yeast is not able to thrive and cause infections.
Vitamin K
Acidophilus and bifidus found in your digestive tract produce vitamin K from the food you eat. Phyllioquinone is a form of vitamin K that is found in vegetables. When you eat vegetables, your gut bacteria takes the phyllioquinone and produces menaquinone, an active form of vitamin K that your bones use to enhance calcium absorption, according to Vegan Health. Animal products contain menaquinone and it was believed you could only get this form of vitamin K from animal meats and products. With a healthy colony of gut bacteria, the bacteria can produce sufficient amounts of menaquinone to meet your dietary needs and prevent deficiency, according to Vegan Health. Newborn babies are given injections of vitamin K because their guts are sterile and are not able to produce vitamin K to prevent excessively bleeding. Phyllioquinone maintains blood clotting factors of the blood, while menaquinone is involved in bone health.
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