According to the National Digestive Disease information clearinghouse in Bethesda, MD, 60 to 70 million Americans suffer from digestive diseases; however, acidophilus supplements may help them to diminish their digestive conditions.

Procedures of current commercial food processing can destroy viable beneficial organisms, making it difficult for the body to maintain good intestinal flora. Even the majority of yogurt products no longer contain a viable acidophilus culture. Poor intestinal flora is, at times, due to preservatives, additives, alcohol, high-fat diets, birth control pills, and stress.

Intestinal flora is often damage by antibiotics drugs, which kill all kinds of bacteria, both good and bad. Antibiotic effects on intestinal flora can last for weeks even after the drug is discontinued. This situation may lead to allergies, fatigue, yeast overgrowth, poor digestion and chronic infections, among other things.

Beneficial bacteria can be reintroduced into the system by acidophilus supplements. Acidophilus supplementation has important benefits not only for digestive system, according to experts, such as: Keeping constipation and diarrhea under control; reduction of bad breath; counteracting lactose intolerance by its association with lactase; cholesterol control by promoting normal absorption of dietary fats; reduction of internal gas; suppression of candida yeast; prevention of intestinal contamination from infectious organisms common in some foreign countries; and suppression of a number of intestinal disorders.

Acidophilus contains bacteria that have a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationship with the human stomach. It is a nutritional supplement product, which is often added to milk or other dairy products or it is also sold as a capsule.