About Lactobacillus Acidophilus HA122

Lactobacillus acidophilus HA122 is a natural probiotic which may have multiple health benefits. Similar to the body's naturally occurring "healthy bacteria," lactobacillus acidophilus HA122 is believed to help the body resist the growth of unhealthy bacteria. Overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria can throw off normal digestive processes and make the body susceptible to infections. Probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus are available through certain natural foods and in pill, capsule or powder form.

Probiotics

• Probiotics are live, microscopic single-celled organisms such as bacteria, yeast and viruses much like the ones that occur naturally in the body. In sufficient numbers, probiotics can act to maintain the balance between healthy bacteria that are beneficial to the body, and the unhealthy ones that are always on the attack. While not essential to good health, probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus HA122 can promote good health, ostensibly by treating some illnesses and promoting general wellness.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus HA122

• Lactobacillus acidophilus is a species of probiotic. Lactobacillus acidophilus HA 122 is a strain, a variety, of the species. In general, lactobacillus is one of the more prevalent naturally occurring probiotics.

Dosage

• Lactobacillus acidophilus can be found naturally in foods such as yogurt, kefir, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut and certain juices and soy beverages. To get lactobacillus acidophilus in controlled amounts, typically 5 billion to 10 billion per dose, purchase a dietary supplement. Some manufacturers specify on the label that the supplement they sell contains lactobacillus acidophilus HA122.

Function

• According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers are studying the positive effects of probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus on health maladies caused by unhealthy bacteria, yeast, fungi and other organisms. Probiotics may help to control diarrhea from infections or as a side effect of antibiotic use, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other bowel problems like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, ulcers and chronic stomach inflammation, tooth decay and periodontal disease, vaginal and urinary infections, some respiratory infections and skin infections.

What are some considerations?

• Right now, there is limited evidence that probiotics have anything more than a placebo effect. More research is needed to confirm the health benefits that some manufacturers and users or probiotics claim. There is a possibility that probiotics can actually cause infections, affect metabolism and lead to autoimmune responses. Always tell your health care professionals what supplements you are taking.