Acidophilus, do you know what that is? To some people, that very word doesn't even exist. But you must know that it is beneficial to our body, specifically our digestive tract.

Acidophilus is a drug that helps maintain intestinal health and serves as a natural antibiotic. Acidophilus is also a nutritional supplement that maintains the 'normal' balance of good bacteria in the intestines.

It is often added to soda or milk, and it may come in the form of capsules, tablets, suppository, powder, and douche which aids in digestion. Acidophilus contain one or more good bacteria like lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophilus and bifidobacterium bifidus.

The gastrointestinal tract consists of over 400 different kinds of bacteria. Our body needs beneficial bacteria to be able to manufacture B vitamins, antibacterial substances, and to produce lactase.

The human digestive tract maintains a balance of good and bad micro organisms. The 'microflora' is healthy micro organism that resides in the digestive tract. As people grow older, the proportion of healthy microflora declines, and therefore it can't effectively protect us from certain diseases. That is why we need more acidophilus.

Probiotics is the supplement form of microflora, and for many years, it was used to increase the number of good/healthy bacteria to prevent and even treat health conditions.

Probiotics works by producing hydrogen peroxide and an organic acid, through spatial exclusion. Spatial exclusion simply means that probiotics crowd-out other bacteria, as they compete with bad bacteria for nutrients needed for growth.

If the microflora's balance is disturbed, and dysfunction occurs, probiotics can now be used.

Acidophilus is used to treat different kinds of diseases like:

- Easy irritable bowel syndrome; acidophilus relieves bloating, diarrhea, and cramping

- Reduces flatulence; the gas producers found in large intestines are reduced or prevented from multiplying.

- Combats vaginal yeast; acidophilus can combat the overgrowth of Candida

- Battle bad breath

- Relieves urinary tract infection

- Helps in producing immune system cells to fight viral infections

- Improves hypersensitivity among infants having food allergies

- Other health conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, constipation, colon cancer, diverticulitis, crohn's disease, heartburn, indigestion, stomach ulcers, thrush, colitis, and ulcerative.

People taking acidophilus have very uncommon reports regarding allergic reactions like difficulty in breathing, swelling of lips, face, tongue, throat, or hives.

Just in case you do develop any side effects, you must consult your doctor immediately.

If you're taking acidophilus, you may be able to feel an increase in gassiness for a few days. This usually happens because the intestines need to adjust with the bacterial shift.

Pregnant women should not take acidophilus.

Scientific studies have proven that acidophilus contains bacteria that have a mutual relationship with the stomach. These bacteria aids in breakdown of food molecules and in inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria.

People with digestive or bacterial problems or yeast infections find acidophilus quite useful. With the many uses of acidophilus, and with many people becoming aware of its benefits, demand for such helpful product will surely increase.