Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Is Probiotic Acidophilus Good For You

Could Help Reduce Or Prevent Allergy Symptoms

Are Probiotics Good for You? | Brit Lab

Common allergies are known for their annoying symptoms like itchy eyes and a runny nose, but thankfully, some research suggests that probiotics could help ease some of them.28

A large study of 47 children found that when they took a combination of lactobacillus acidophilus and other probiotics reduced the nasal blocking, runny nose and some other symptoms of a pollen allergy.29

Another study found that taking lactobacillus acidophilus for 4 months reduced some of the hay fever-like symptoms in children with perennial allergic rhinitis, including nasal swelling.30

How Do Probiotics Work

The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Think of it as keeping your body in neutral. When you are sick, bad bacteria enters your body and increases in number. This knocks your body out of balance. Good bacteria works to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance within your body, making you feel better.

Good bacteria keeps you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Certain types of good bacteria can also:

  • Help your body digest food.
  • Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
  • Create vitamins.
  • Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed from entering your blood.
  • Breakdown and absorb medications.

This balancing act is naturally happening in your body all of the time. You dont actually need to take probiotic supplements to make it happen. Good bacteria is just a natural part of your body. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fiber every day helps to keep the number of good bacteria at proper levels.

Probiotics Can Aid Digestion And Help Maintain Gut Health

What are the benefits of taking probiotics? Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, so the idea of tossing down a few billion a day for your health might seem literally and figuratively hard to swallow. But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria. Northern Europeans consume a lot of these beneficial microorganisms, called probiotics , because of their tradition of eating foods fermented with bacteria, such as yogurt. Probiotic-laced beverages are also big business in Japan.

Some digestive disease specialists are recommending probiotic supplements for disorders that frustrate conventional medicine, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Since the mid-1990s, clinical studies suggest that probiotic therapy can help treat several gastrointestinal ills, delay the development of allergies in children, and treat and prevent vaginal and urinary infections in women.

Self-dosing with bacteria isn’t as outlandish as it might seem. An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms representing more than 500 different species inhabit every normal, healthy bowel. These microorganisms generally don’t make us sick most are helpful. Gut-dwelling bacteria keep pathogens in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function.

Don’t Miss: Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion Reviews

Do Probiotics Do Any Good

Dr Chris van Tullekan sets out to discover whether probiotic products are really good for our health, and whether theres a cheaper and easier way to get health benefits through our gut bacteria.

Every year, we in the UK spend about three quarters of a billion pounds on probiotic products, which contain live bacteria that are supposed to boost our health. Our guts especially our large intestine are full of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other living organisms. In fact there are more of them than there are cells in the rest of our body, meaning that what we think of as our own bodies are more bacterium than human!

Your instant reaction might be to want to get rid of all these foreign bodies inside us, but actually they are vital to our wellbeing. They help us absorb nutrients from our food, metabolise drugs, and educate our immune system. Our own personal mix of gut bacteria makes us the person we are, and changing what bacteria we have can affect our health.

The idea of boosting bacteria that we know are good for our health has been around for a very long time, but actual scientific research on whether it works or not is still in its relatively early stages.

Although the probiotic companies claimed such health benefits for many years, now they have changed their advertising in Europe as the European Food Safety Authority ruled that not all these pieces of evidence are yet there.

What Other Drugs Will Affect Lactobacillus Acidophilus

Are probiotics really good for you?

Do not take lactobacillus acidophilus without medical advice if you are using any medications that can weaken your immune system, such as:

  • medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection or

  • steroid medicine .

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with lactobacillus acidophilus, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this product guide.

Recommended Reading: Best Probiotic To Balance Ph

Signs You Are Taking Too Many Probiotics

Generally, probiotics are safe, but you can have too much of a good thing.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that have been found to help promote better digestive health and support your immune system. These microorganisms exist in your intestines and help to break down food, absorb nutrients, and minimize harmful bacteria that may otherwise cause disease. You can get more probiotics by incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements into your diet. Foods containing probiotics include yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir.

Many people take probiotic supplements for additional health benefits as they offer higher doses of probiotics than probiotic-rich foods. Generally, probiotics are safe, but you can have too much of a good thing. Lets take a look at the four common signs that you may be taking too many probiotics.

Should I Give Probiotics To My Kids

Probiotics can be beneficial for both adults and kids. If your child has an illness that requires an antibiotic medication for treatment, taking a probiotic can help shorten symptoms. Probiotics can also be used to help relieve constipation, acid reflux, diarrhea, gas and eczema in children.

Introducing probiotics into your childs diet through food is typically a safe way to give them probiotics. Foods like yogurt and cottage cheese are often part of a balanced diet and can add in good bacteria without much risk.

There are commercially available probiotic supplements specifically designed for infants and children. However, it is important to talk to your childs pediatrician before giving them any probiotic supplement or changing the childs diet to include probiotic-rich foods.

Read Also: Best Probiotic Pills To Take

Are There Any Risks Related To Probiotics

Probiotics are generally considered safe. However, there are some risks linked to the supplements. These risks are increased if you have a medical condition that weakens your immune system, have recently had surgery or have other serious medical conditions.

Unlikely, but possible, risks can include:

  • Developing an infection.
  • Developing a resistance to antibiotics.
  • Developing harmful byproducts from the probiotic supplement.

The Truth About Probiotics

Probiotics | Good for You? | BBC Studios

These incredible bacteria have multiple health benefits. By replenishing the bacteria we shed due to toxins like antibiotics, we strengthen our digestive system and immunity. Probiotics are extremely safe and effective. They are in everything from yogurts to fermented beverages like kefir and kombucha. However, this influx of bacteria can have a negative effect in certain individuals. You should avoid probiotics if youre experiencing any of the following:

Don’t Miss: What Do Probiotics Do For Your Vagina

How Are Probiotics Regulated In The United States

Government regulation of probiotics in the United States is complex. Depending on a probiotic productâs intended use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might regulate it as a dietary supplement, a food ingredient, or a drug.

Many probiotics are sold as dietary supplements, which donât require FDA approval before they are marketed. Dietary supplement labels may make claims about how the product affects the structure or function of the body without FDA approval, but they arenât allowed to make health claims, such as saying the supplement lowers your risk of getting a disease, without the FDAâs consent.

If a probiotic is going to be marketed as a drug for treatment of a disease or disorder, it has to meet stricter requirements. It must be proven safe and effective for its intended use through clinical trials and be approved by the FDA before it can be sold.

Probiotics May Reduce The Severity Of Certain Allergies And Eczema

Certain probiotic strains may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants.

One study found eczema symptoms improved for infants fed probiotic-supplemented milk, compared to infants fed milk without probiotics .

Another study followed children of women who took probiotics during pregnancy. Those children had an 83% lower risk of developing eczema in the first two years of life .

However, the link between probiotics and reduced eczema severity is still weak and more research needs to be done .

Some probiotics may also reduce inflammatory responses in people with milk or dairy allergies. However, the evidence is weak and further studies are needed .

Bottom Line:

Probiotics may reduce the risk and severity of certain allergies, such as eczema in infants. However, more research is needed.

Don’t Miss: Gnc Probiotic Complex With Fiber

Health Benefits Of Acidophilus For Women

There are so many foods you can find lactobacillus acidophilus in its hard to miss. As a dietary supplement, it is available in several forms, including in theGood Morning Recovery Pack. It has 100 million CFU in it, giving the user a range of benefits from curing yeast infections to aiding in the recovery of some kinds of cancer. They support every ingredient put in a single pouch as a potent healing agent.

May Help Support The Immune System

Probiotics: are they really good for you?

A healthy gut is essential for a healthy immune system, which we need to help reduce the risk of viral infections, like the common cold.

Some studies have shown that probiotics could help improve or prevent symptoms of the common cold.22,23

One study followed 326 children taking lactobacillus acidophilus daily for 6 months. They found that it reduced fever by 53%, coughing by 41% and days off sick from school by 32%.24

Also Check: Which Probiotic Has The Most Strains

Effects Of Probiotics In Food For Diabetics

Probiotics play a huge role in diet for diabetic patients. They should ideally be 80% of your total gut bacteria. Moreover, if you are a diabetic patient, adding probiotics to your diet can change things dramatically.

Probiotics, when added to the diet for diabetes, helps prevent insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is more often caused by consuming foods that contain trans fat. Supplements or foods that contain probiotics can help normalize this condition and boost better functioning.

Here are 10 benefits of probiotics for diabeties

  • Helps manage weight
  • Helps produce several kinds of B-vitamins
  • Betters the functioning of the intestinal tract
  • Supports overall health
  • Getting To Know Your Enemy

    While the bacterium is typically found in older adults that are in long-term care facilities, it has recently been found in more individuals that are not considered high-risk.

    | Related: The 5 Best Probiotic Foods Youve Never Heard Of |

    C. diff also shows up after prolonged periods of antibiotic use, which seems ironic given the fact that antibiotics are supposed to protect us from bacteria.

    Every year, close to half a million people get sick from C.diff, indicating a strong increase in the prevalence of this bacterium. The microorganism actually exists all around us in the air, soil, water, and in both human and animal feces.

    In some cases, this bacterium lives among the bacterial colony in your gut, but symptoms may never develop.

    It seems that certain courses of antibiotics trigger a reaction in C. diff and cause symptoms to develop. These can range from mild diarrhea and abdominal cramping to more severe issues, such as:

    Long-lasting diarrhea

    Severe and persistent abdominal cramping

    Blood or pus in the stool

    Weight loss

    Swollen abdomen

    The C. diff bacteria does not affect everybody and is most common among the elderly and individuals that spend extended amounts of time in hospitals and health care facilities. The startling discovery of the bacteria affecting other individuals has caused a deeper focus to be given to the bacterium.

    | Related: Why Probiotics Give Your Immune System a Big Boost |

    | Related: How Womens Digestive Health Is Different From Mens |

    You May Like: Best Protein And Probiotic Shakes

    + Health Benefits Of L Acidophilus Probiotics

    Biljana Novkovic, PhDJonathan Ritter, PharmD, PhD Puya Yazdi, MDBiljana Novkovic, PhD

    SelfHacked has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed. We believe that the most accurate information is found directly in the scientific source.

    We are dedicated to providing the most scientifically valid, unbiased, and comprehensive information on any given topic.

    Our team comprises of trained MDs, PhDs, pharmacists, qualified scientists, and certified health and wellness specialists.

    All of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background.

    Our science team is put through the strictest vetting process in the health industry and we often reject applicants who have written articles for many of the largest health websites that are deemed trustworthy. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. They are continually monitored by our internal peer-review process and if we see anyone making material science errors, we don’t let them write for us again.

    Our goal is to not have a single piece of inaccurate information on this website. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at

    Probiotics In Liquid Form Vs Probiotics In A Pill

    Why Probiotics Are Good For You

    Many people are now aware that probiotics come with tons of benefits for the overall health and immune system.

    However, what most people dont know is that probiotics can take and be taken in several different forms. Those two forms are primarily probiotic pills vs. liquid.

    Pills include chewable tablets, enteric coated capsules, and regular freeze-dried capsules. Liquid probiotics have considerably more variations in the form of liquid supplements and probiotic-enriched drinks. It is a given that liquids are definitely better for infants, elderly and people who have trouble swallowing tablets.

    However, there is more than that when it comes to probiotic pills vs. liquid. Here is everything you need to know about the ideal form of probiotics for your needs.

    Read Also: Top 10 Probiotics For Women

    Where Else Does Microbiota Live

    Beneficial microbiota are not limited to our gut, although we are most familiar with probiotics and prebiotics designed to impact our gut health.

    Beneficial microbiota can be found throughout and all over our body. For example, our armpits have microbiotal systems to break down perspiration, which in turn can cause unpleasant odors. In a prior blog, we even discussed the different deodorants containing probiotic and prebiotic ingredients designed to alter our scent.

    Our microbiome helps keep our body, not just our gut, in healthy homeostasis.

    Should You Be Taking Probiotics

    Scientific research into the health benefits of probiotics is still growing.

    However, a considerable amount of research suggests probiotic cultures may benefit a whole host of digestive issues, skin and inflammatory conditions as well as immune function support and emotional well-being .

    The beneficial bacteria living in the lower digestive tract provide a protective barrier against disease causing bacteria, pathogens, parasites and yeast infections.

    While there is evidence that probiotics do help to improve digestion and gastronomic health, it is hard to say that one brand over another is more effective at doing so.

    Go-Ask-Alice Columbia university

    However, the balance between good and bad is fragile one easily eroded by poor diet, stress, antibiotics, laxatives, antacids and a lack of exercise.

    Also, 80% of your immune system resides in your gut. Therefore, a balanced digestive system means a strong immune system.

    You may benefit from taking probiotics if any of the following relate to you:

    • want to maintain a healthy gut
    • about to take or have taken antibiotics
    • experience gas and bloating
    • have a digestive disease like irritable bowel syndrome
    • suffer from a skin condition such as eczema

    Also Check: Can A Probiotic Help With Anxiety

    It May Promote Weight Loss

    The bacteria in your intestines help control food digestion and a number of other bodily processes.

    Therefore, they influence your weight.

    There is some evidence that probiotics may help you lose weight, especially when multiple species are consumed together. However, the evidence on L. acidophilus alone is unclear .

    A recent study that combined the results of 17 human studies and over 60 animal studies found that some lactobacilli species led to weight loss, while others may have contributed to weight gain .

    It suggested that L. acidophilus was one of the species that led to weight gain. However, most of the studies were conducted in farm animals, not humans.

    Furthermore, some of these older studies used probiotics that were originally thought to be L. acidophilus, but have since been identified as different species (

    40 ).

    A similar study on L. acidophilus and another probiotic also found similar positive results for reducing cold symptoms in children .

    Summary:

    L. acidophilus on its own and in combination with other probiotics may reduce cold symptoms, especially in children.

    Conditions Related To Allergy

    Probiotics 60 Billion CFU

    Allergic Rhinitis

    • A review of 23 studies in which probiotics were tested for treating allergic rhinitis found some evidence that they may be helpful for improving symptoms and quality of life. However, because the studies tested different probiotics and measured different effects, no recommendations about the use of probiotics could be made. Few side effects of probiotics were reported in these studies.

    Asthma

    • A review of 11 studies of probiotics for asthma in children had inconclusive results.

    Atopic Dermatitis

    • Atopic dermatitis is an itchy chronic skin disorder thatâs associated with allergies but not caused by them. Itâs most common in infants and may start as early as age 2 to 6 months. Many people outgrow it by early adulthood. Atopic dermatitis is one of several types of eczema.
    • A 2017 review of 13 studies of probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in infants and children did not find consistent evidence of a beneficial effect. A review of 9 studies in adults provided preliminary evidence that some strains of probiotics might be beneficial for symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

    Prevention of Allergies

    Don’t Miss: Best Probiotic For Gas Bloating

    Popular Articles
    Related news