L. acidophilus is a probiotic, a type of healthy bacteria. Yogurts and probiotic supplements often contain this bacteria, which may help to improve the symptoms of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. L. acidophilus helps to prevent and treat gastrointestinal disorders, and may even inhibit the growth of gastrointestinal pathogens, according to an article published in January 2002 in "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics." Taking acidophilus supplements may be beneficial if you decide to do a colon cleanse, although many health professionals advise against doing this type of cleanse for detoxification purposes. Check with your doctor before using a colon cleanse or taking acidophilus supplements to make sure it would be safe for you.
Colon Cleansing
Proponents of colon cleansing claim it removes toxins and helps with weight loss and headaches, as well as increasing energy. Colon cleansing can involve drinking only specially formulated juices or teas, taking certain supplements or laxatives and a process called colonic irrigation, in which a tube is inserted into your rectum and your colon is flushed out with large amounts of water.
Acidophilus During Cleanses
Colon cleansing can result in diarrhea and often removes the good bacteria in your colon as well as any impurities. Taking acidophilus supplements while cleansing will help to restore these healthy bacteria levels and help prevent you from having gastrointestinal problems. Some colon cleansing supplements already include acidophilus in their ingredients for this reason, and Dr. Michael Lam, a specialist in anti-aging and nutritional medicine, recommends you take probiotics supplements, such as those containing acidophilus, in conjunction with any detox program.
Safety
Colon cleansing has no proven detoxification benefits, and may cause side effects ranging from nausea, vomiting, bloating and cramping to more serious health problems including electrolyte imbalance, anemia, kidney failure, liver toxicity and death, according to an August 2011 article in the "Journal of Family Practice." Many colon cleansing regimens also don't contain sufficient nutrients or enough calories to keep you from feeling weak. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that probiotics supplements, such as L. acidophilus, are unlikely to cause serious side effects in most healthy people, although they may cause minor side effects such as gas.
Alternatives
Your body does a good job of removing toxins without you needing to do a cleanse. However, a healthier alternative to most colon cleanses and detox diets would be to eat a vegetarian diet consisting of only whole foods for a short while. This diet, as suggested in an AARP blog, would involve eliminating sugars, caffeine, white flour and processed foods from your diet for the duration of your cleanse, and eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes and small amounts of meat, fish and dairy, preferably organic dairy and pasture-raised meats to limit antibiotic consumption. Consume plenty of fiber and water and exercise regularly to help keep your colon healthy.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Oral Probiotics: An Introduction
- Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics: A Lyophilized and Inactivated Culture of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Increases Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Rates
- Journal of Family Practice: The Dangers of Colon Cleansing
- AARP: A Gentle Detox Diet
- Dr. Lam: Detoxification
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