Acidophilus and Bifidus are two groups of bacteria that provide health benefits. When eaten, they become established in your digestive tract to help treat and prevent a variety of health problems. They do this by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria, producing nutrients, and sending signals to your immune system. Although acidophilus and bifidus are considered safe ingredients, children and people with existing health problems should consult a health care provider before using them.
Acidophilus
Acidophilus is a general name used to describe a variety of beneficial bacteria. Lactobacillus acidophilus is one species that lives in your mouth, intestines and reproductive tract. They promote good health by producing vitamin K and lactase, as well as enhance your body's absorption of nutrients. They also help ward off bad bacteria by producing antimicrobial chemicals, such as bacteriocin and acidophilin. Because acidophilus are beneficial, they are considered probiotic organisms.
Bifidus
Bifidus, also called Bifidobacteria, is the genus name for a group of at least thirty-two probiotic species. They live in your digestive tract and ferment the non-digestible carbohydrates that you eat. The acids that Bifidus species produce as by-products of this fermentation discourage harmful bacteria from growing. Because they are an important part of healthy digestion, without them you may experience constipation and indigestion.
Health Benefits
Food and supplements that contain acidophilus or bifidus may help treat and prevent a variety of health problems. Some of these problems, such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, oral thrush and inflammatory bowel disease can cause symptoms of burning. Although research on the efficacy of probiotic benefits is limited, it shows that they may work by boosting you immune system, prevent infection from pathogens, strengthen the protective lining in your gut, eliminate toxins and helping to metabolize food.
Sources
Acidophilus and bifidus can be taken as dietary supplements in pill form or as ingredients in functional foods. They are found in dairy products, such as yogurt and kefir, as well as some bakery products and cereals. Because different strains of bacteria may provide different health benefits, you should take the time to consider which will benefit you most.
Dosage
In order to gain health benefits from acidophilus and bifidus, you need to eat them regularly. It is also important that you include prebiotic fiber in your diet to help acidophilus and bifidus grow. When buying food products, look for the number of colony-forming units, CFUs, listed on the label. For example, eight ounces of yogurt that contains 100 million CFUs is appropriate for adults. It is important that you consult a health care provider before giving probiotic bacteria to a child.
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