Best Acidophilus Milk Brands & Where to Buy

Acidophilus milk is regular milk which has been enriched by adding the probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, to it. This enrichment strengthens and fortifies the balance of microflora living within the gastrointestinal tract.

Individuals who may be lactose intolerant are often able to drink acidophilus milk in place of regular milk. Different probiotic milk products will contain different quantities and qualities of Acidophilus strains.

You can find this product sold at Whole Foods, Walmart and many other food and health product retailers. However, it is important to research individual brands to ensure you are purchasing an effective supplement and not a probiotic in name only.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Who Should Drink Acidophilus Milk?

Acidophilus, or L. acidophilus, is a living organism which needs to be alive at the time of ingestion to be considered viable and beneficial. Microorganisms are considered to be probiotic when, if administered in adequate amounts, they are able to impart beneficial effects on their host organism (humans and other mammals).

Of all the probiotic bacteria, L. acidophilus is the most well-studied, well-researched and well-proven probiotic available. It is a foundational bacteria which makes the work other probiotics easier to perform.

Small amounts of probiotics including Acidophilus exist naturally in milk. But more recently, several different brands of probiotic-enriched milk have been introduced to the market to meet consumer demand for probiotic supplementation.

Milk which has been enriched with acidophilus usually tastes a little tangy, and if sugar has been added it may taste sweeter than regular milk and will contain more calories. It is also typically a bit thicker. The shelf life of acidophilus milk is usually longer than regular milk.

Benefits of Lactobacillus Acidophilus in Milk

Some doctors prescribe acidophilus supplementation when the balance of microflora within the intestines has been disturbed or disrupted. Disruption can be due to injury, illness or treatment with antibiotics.

When disrupted, the balance between the healthy and harmful bacteria can change, leaving an individual susceptible to illness, disease, digestive discomfort or disorders.

Antibiotics are helpful when we are ill, but they are unable to distinguish between helpful and harmful bacteria, so they indiscriminately set about killing all of them. In healthy individuals, this balance will slowly return to normal within 1 to 6 months, while in less healthy people, it may remain disrupted indefinitely.

Supplementing with acidophilus during, and following, antibiotic treatment helps to restore the balance more quickly and efficiently.

Research shows our immune system is directly impacted by the bacteria inhabiting our gut region. The microflora balance fluctuates naturally throughout our lives, but in general, healthy gut flora is associated with healthy humans.

Acidophilus milk not only helps individuals with lactose intolerance, but also works to keep the GI tract in check each day.

It does this by introducing fresh live acidophilus bacteria to the intestine where it colonizes and begins converting sugars to lactic acid. This acidic environment is inhibitive to pathogenic organisms which find the environment unsuitable for habitation.

Acidophilus Milk as a Supplement

Those who drink acidophilus milk, tend to drink it daily. Thus, it can be similar to taking an acidophilus supplement. The main difference between acidophilus milk and tablets or pills is the dose of acidophilus they are able to provide each day.

Pills and tablets provide a consistent standardized daily dose without variation, while the colony-forming units (CFUs) in a glass of acidophilus milk will vary from day to day, and from container to container.

In addition, bacteria can be sensitive to temperature fluctuations, oxygen exposure and light exposure which can cause significant reduction of viability in milk products.

If drinking acidophilus milk, buy from reputable manufacturers who are careful regarding production methods, as well as shipping and stocking guidelines.

Acidophilus milk, when used in place of regular milk, can add another dimension of health to your daily routine. It can be eaten over whole-grain cereals, used in shakes or as a drink with a meal. Another option is Lactobacillus-enriched yogurt.

A majority of people using acidophilus enriched milk products report decreases of bloating (after meals), as well as a reduction or elimination of flatulence due to lactose intolerance. Many people say they feel better overall and experience better bowel function, including regularity.

Recent studies indicate that acidophilus contributes to lowering overall cholesterol. More research is currently under way to investigate how acidophilus can be used in this capacity.

How Much Acidophilus Do I Need?

When taking acidophilus as part of a daily health regimen, 1-2 billion CFUs is recommended each day. Most milks enriched with acidophilus contain much lower quantities than this, however, bear in mind that many people are eating some acidophilus naturally on vegetables and in fermented food products.

If choosing between acidophilus enriched milk or non-enriched, the enriched milk is a better choice for health.

For restoring the microflora in the gut after treatment with antibiotics, acidophilus milk is probably not the best choice. This is because the lactose in milk requires a high volume of positive bacteria to be present in the gut already in order for it to be properly processed.

Instead, choose supplements in pill or tablet form when trying to re-establish a healthy flora following a disturbance. In this instance, more is better than less, as the healthy bacteria rely on strength in numbers to out-compete pathogenic microorganisms for space in the intestinal lumen.

For replenishing proper balance of microbiota, use a quality supplement for at least two weeks. Following this time, the colony of health bacteria in your intestines should be restored and your body will be able to process lactose normally again.

Then it should be okay to go back to supplementing with acidophilus milk and eating other food products enriched with this potent bacteria.

Conclusion

Drinking acidophilus milk in place of regular milk has been found to help many people who with lactose intolerance. Bloating, flatulence and abdominal discomfort often abate when using a healthy enriched acidophilus milk product.

There are fewer live colonies of Lactobacillus Acidophilus provided in milk than in probiotic pills or supplements. Thus, for treating certain health conditions these products may prove more effective.

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