Acidophilus contains 2 billion friendly bacteria! For healthy digestion and general well-being we need to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. Modern-day lifestyle, stress and some drugs, especially antibiotics, can deplete our friendly bacteria which play a vital role in blood cholesterol and immune health as well as our ability to absorb nutrients.
The gut contains billions of friendly bacteria. It is estimated that about 500 different ones make their homes inside us. Surprisingly about 60% of faeces is made up of bacteria.
The bacteria are very useful for our health
- They produce biotin (a B vitamin) and vitamin K.
- They protect against colon cancer.
- They are involved in the immune system response of the body.
- They ferment unused food.
- They are involved in lowering blood cholesterol levels.
- They prevent the growth of organisms that could cause food poisoning.
- Cheaper then priobotics drinks
- Suitable for vegetarians.
Stress, antibiotics, certain drugs and female hormones can cause the balance to tip away from the favourable bacteria and towards unfavourable organisms. The friendly bacteria in this supplement help to keep the balance in favour of the bacteria that are beneficial to our health. Some people appear to need to take these long term in order to sustain the healthy bacteria colonies.
It used to be thought that taking a supplement like this was useless, as the bacteria would be destroyed in the stomach long before they get to the gut. Newer research has shown that some bacteria do survive and are effective at increasing the population of friendly bacteria in the gut. Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium have this ability to survive the stomach.
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