Acidophilus Directions

Acidolphilus is a type of probiotic, or microorganism believed to improve digestive health, and found in supplements and foods. Except in rare cases, taking acidolphilus is safe and causes few side effects. "People in cultures around the world have been eating yogurt, cheeses and other foods containing live cultures for centuries," says Martin Floch, MD, a professor of gastroenterology at Yale University, co-author of "Probiotics: A Clinical Guide," and a consultant for the Dannon Company.

Things You'll Need

• Internet connection
• Health food store or grocer
• health care provider
• acidolpholus source

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Instructions

Research, Evaluate, Consult, Enjoy

• 1

  Research the best type of acidolphilus for you, based on your reason for taking it. Medical researchers used Lactobacillus acidophilus as far back as the 1950s to prevent the destructive effect of antibiotics; however, recent trials treating traveler's diarrhea and constipation, with different strains of lactobacilli, produced mixed results. You may need to experiment with different strains to find what works best for you.

• 2

  Cheeses that contain good bacteria usually say "has live or active cultures" somewhere on the packaging.

  Evaluate the best forms of acidophilus for you, based on your personal preferences. Acidolphilus is available in many forms including powders, capsules, tablets, and foods such as yogurt, acidolphilus milk, kefir, cheese, sauerkraut and even acilophilus-rich health bars. According to Stefano Guandalini, MD, a professor of gastroenterology at the University of Chicago School of Medicine, "It's really a matter of personal preference." He adds that any of the forms are okay as long as they have adequate levels of live organisms. Effective doses range from as few as 50 million live cells for some organisms to as many as 1 trillion cells per dose for others.

• 3

  Evaluate the acidolphilus food or supplement by examining its label. The label should include the specific genus and species of the organisms it contains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, for example). The label should also indicate the number of organisms contained in a single dose; how often you should take it; recommended uses, based on scientific studies; storage information, especially if it requires refrigeration and contact information for the company.

• 4

  Check with your physician to make sure acidolphilus will not interfere with any medications you currently take.

  Consult your physician or health care provider prior to taking any acidolphilus to make sure it will not interfere with any medications you might be taking. For example; if you currently take antibiotics, it is best to wait until you complete that treatment, as antibiotics will kill the good bacteria along with the bad. Also, ensure that acidolphilus is not contraindicated for any medical condition you might have.

• 5

  Take your chosen acidolphilus according to the label directions, unless otherwise directed by your health care provider.