It may be hard to believe, but your body is ridden with bacteria. While some of the bacteria in your body is harmful, some bacteria actually improves your health. Improving the balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria aids in digestion, improves immune health and may even help improve constipation. Probiotics are found in some foods and supplements that provide the good bacteria. Acidophilus and bifidus are two types of good bacteria found in probiotics.
Constipation
Constipation is a common and uncomfortable gastrointestinal problem. Because bowel function differs from person to person, it is difficult to define constipation. However, in general, if you have fewer than three bowel movements a week and the stools are hard and difficult to pass, you may have constipation. Increasing your fiber and fluid intake can help alleviate constipation. Probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus may help improve constipation, but results have been variable.
Acidophilus and Bifidus
Acidophilus and bifidus play different roles in the health of your digestive system. Acidophilus, also known as Lactobacillus acidophilus, helps break down food and forms substances that create an unfriendly environment for the bad bacteria living in your intestines. Health care practitioners often recommend acidophilus as a probiotic to help treat diarrhea. Bifidus, also known as Bifidobacterium longum, helps to the maintain health of your digestive tract, prevents growth of bad bacteria and improves immune health. It is also used to treat diarrhea. Acidophilus and bifidus are often found together in foods like yogurt and other fermented dairy products.
Probiotics and Constipation
Probiotics are sometimes recommended as a form of treatment for people with chronic constipation. However, studies that include both acidophilus and bifidus seem to show conflicting results. A 2011 study published in "Nutrition Journal" investigated the effects of yogurt that contained both bifidus and acidophilus on defecation frequency in a group of children with chronic constipation. The study found an increase in stool frequency in the children who were supplemented with the yogurt. Another 2011 study published in "Gut and Liver" investigated the effects of a probiotic strain that included both bifidus and acidophilus on constipation in a group of adults with irritable bowel syndrome. This study showed no improvement in stool frequency when the participants were supplemented with the probiotics alone.
Considerations
While it is debatable whether acidophilus and bifidus can help your constipation, including foods that contain these friendly strains of bacteria in your diet offers other health benefits. In addition to helping you manage diarrhea, probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus help produce B vitamins, aid in the digestion of lactose, and help prevent and treat eczema and dermatitis caused by allergies.
References
- RD411; Probiotics and Prebiotics; August 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Constipation; January 2011
- "Nutrition Journal"; Is Bifidobacterium Breve Effective in the Treatment of Childhood Constipation? Results From a Pilot Study; M.M. Tabbers, et al.; February 2011
- "Gut and Liver"; Probiotic Fermented Milk Containing Dietary Fiber Has Additive Effects in IBS With Constipation Compared to Plain Probiotic Fermented Milk; Sung Chul Choi, et al.; March 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- Probiotic.org: Bifidobacterium Longum
