Probiotics offer a variety of potential therapeutic uses. Some of these include the following-
replace the friendly bacteria that live in the intestines and are destroyed by antibiotics
aid in the digestive process and help to suppress bacteria that cause diseases
prevent as well as treat cases of diarrhea
treat an overgrowth of “bad” organisms in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition that often causes diarrhea and may occur as a result of the use of antibiotics)
alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and possibly, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
prevent and/or reduce the recurrence of vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections and cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
improve the absorption of lactose in people who have been diagnosed as lactose intolerant
enhance the natural response of the immune system
aid in the treatment of respiratory infections such as bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia
lower risk of allergies, for example, food allergies to milk, asthma, hay fever, and skin reactions such as eczema and psoriasis
help to treat high cholesterol
reduce the risk of bladder tumors recurring once cancer has been treated
Dietary Sources
The primary dietary sources of Lactobacillus Acidophilus (also referred to as L. acidophilus) include milk (enriched with acidophilus), yogurt containing live cultures (always check the label on the container, some brands of yogurt contain a higher concentration of cultures than others), miso, and tempeh.
Miso is a concentrated savory paste made from soybeans (in other words, a fermented bean paste). Tempeh is a tender, chunky cake of fermented soybeans that is a staple of Indonesian cooking.
Available Forms
L. acidophilus preparations are made of dried or liquid cultures of living bacteria. These cultures are generally grown in milk but can sometimes be grown in cultures that are absent of milk. It is available in the following forms:
Freeze-dried capsules
Freeze-dried granules
Freeze-dried powders
Liquid Lactobacillus Acidophilus preparations (which must be refrigerated)