What are Acidophilus Tablets?
Acidophilus tablets are nutrition supplements, or tablets, designed to provide the body with extra acidophilus. Achidophilus is a bacteria, or a germ, that normally lives in the digestive track (specifically, the small intestine). It serves as a probiotic, which means it helps the body to keep its supply of helpful bacteria normal or balanced. In addition to being found in the body and being available in a tablet form, acidophilus is also present in yogurt and other dairy products.
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What is Acidophilus
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There are many different possible benefits of taking acidophilus tablets. Some of these benefits have been proven, like the benefit of increased bowel health. Other claims, like that acidophilus can help cure or prevent cancer, are less clear.
History
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Acidophilus itself has been used since the 1800s, when the Balkans were believed to live long lives because of their consumption of fermented milk. Acidophilus tablets in use today create a tablet form of these priobiotic bacteria to help the body to maintain its bacteria levels.
Dosage
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The recommended dosage of acidophilus is between 1 and 10 billion bacteria. Typically, acidophilus tablets contain somewhere within this recommended amount of bacteria in the tablet form. Dosage suggestions vary by tablet, but generally it is advised to take between one and three acidophilus tablets daily.
Suggested Uses
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Acidophilus tablets have been demonstrated to help keep the bowels healthy. Some claim that acidophilus tablets can also be used to treat yeast infections (specifically vaginal infections), help with diarrhea, aid in the digestion of lactose for those who are lactose intolerant, lower cholesterol and otherwise help stave off disease by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. Each of these purposes depends on acidophilus' property of maintaining healthy bacteria levels. It has also been suggested that acidophilus may help prevent certain types of cancer, like colon cancer, by neutralizing dietary carcinogens and killing tumor cells. It is also speculated that acidophilus can boost the immune system.
Evidence
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There are no human studies that demonstrate acidophilus has the ability to affect cancer. Laboratory studies on acidophilus' ability to prevent cancer in animals are unclear and have mixed results. According to the American Cancer Society, some studies have suggested that acidophilus tablets can lower cholesterol, while others have not, and there has been some success with using acidophilus tablets to lower the risk of diarrhea.
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