Does Friendly Bacteria Like Acidophilus Help in Digestion?

It is a fact that the human body is host to a massive number of microorganisms, and the majority of them take up residence in the intestines, where they are collectively called the gut flora. Up to 1000 species inhabit the colon alone with bacterial strains ranging from 30 to 40. Some substances that the small intestine can't digest, it washes away along with waste products that get to the colon, and friendly bacteria such as acidophilus complete the job.

Fermentation and Digestion

Our body does not have all the genes we need to be able to effectively denature all the foods we eat and absorb the bioactive compounds that make up these foods. One classic example is the fact that a significant fraction of the worldwide population is lactose intolerant. However, there are a lot more compounds found in many fruits and vegetables that pass the alimentary canal completely undigested, and without the presence of friendly bacteria, the digestive tract will never be able to absorb them.

Carbohydrates are just a few of these compounds. There are types of starches and sugars that our body is not programmed to digest, putting to waste a significant fraction of calorie intake. When bacterial fermentation occurs in the digestive tract, these complex carbohydrates are modified into simpler chemical compounds that are ready for absorption by the intestinal walls. These carbohydrates are a group of healthy compounds present in vegetables like asparagus, beans, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower, among others.

Prevention of Digestive Problems

Acidophilus and other friendly bacteria are also known to supply the body with nutrients and other important substances. In the case of lactose intolerance, the absence of the required enzyme called lactase in the digestive tract give rise to the inability to process milk and other products for the rest of our lives. Infants and children, however, do have the needed gene to produce this enzyme, but genetic activities associated with lactase dwindle in most individuals as we age.

This is the time Lactobacillus acidophilus comes to the rescue. Healthy levels of these friendly bacteria do the job of producing the enzyme lactase for use by the gastrointestinal tract in the metabolism of milk, cheese and ice cream, thereby doing away with all the digestive complaints associated with consumptions of food products containing lactose. The complex compounds in the foods we eat serve as nutrition for these bacteria, which produce simpler compounds that help digestion such as lactase.

Vitamin K is among the essential nutrients that friendly bacteria manufacture. Other products include acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid, contributing to the proper absorption of dietary minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. Ironically, acidophilus is known to supply the digestive tract with acidolin, acidlphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin, all of which are antibiotics that effectively keep in check the populations of not so friendly bacteria also residing in the alimentary canal.

Not only does acidophilus help digestion, but it also contributes to good nutrition. You can find this wonderful probiotic at your local or internet vitamin store. Always choose name brands like KAL to ensure quality of the probiotic acidophilus supplement you buy for better health.

About the Author

If you need a Probiotic boost, give Acidophilus a try risk free at VitaNet ®, LLC Vitamin Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Unique content such as this is available to all who are interested contact me: http://vitanetonline.com/articlerequest.cfm

Author (Darrell Miller). Submitted on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 Time: 11:04 PM

Rating: Not yet rated

Comments

No comments posted.