There are many acidophilus tablets on the market and it can be hard to tell the difference. You can choose the best acidophilus tablets by talking to a pharmacist or holistic doctor. Be sure to choose items which contain billions rather than millions of active cultures. You should also choose those which also contain prebiotics, or carbohydrates which aid the flora as they travel through the digestive tract.
Acidophilus tablets are designed to aid in digestion and sometimes vaginal infections. They are naturally occurring bacteria in the body which act to keep harmful pathogens, such as other bacteria and yeast, at bay. Sometimes the good and bad bacteria can become imbalanced, which can lead to digestive upset, yeast infections, and other conditions like diarrhea or nausea.
You should choose acidophilus tablets which contain as many live cultures as possible. This helps to ensure that more of them stay alive long enough to reach your digestive tract where they can do some good. Many options contain up to 600 billion live cultures at the time of manufacturing. This number declines over time, so you should also choose options which are fresh and recently manufactured.
It is also a good idea to choose acidophilus tablets which contain prebiotics. These are sugars or carbohydrates which are designed to keep flora alive as they travel through the digestive tract. They also feed them so that they remain active. If the bacteria are dead before they arrive in your gut, they can do you no good. It may help to avoid foods which can kill these bacteria, namely dairy and heavily processed foods.
Although rare, you should discontinue use of any acidophilus tablets if you experience any negative reactions. The most common side effect is diarrhea, but this generally only occurs if you take more than recommended. Drug interactions are unlikely, but as with any supplement, you should contact a pharmacist or doctor before taking acidophilus tablets if you are taking any other medications.
Acidophilus tablets can be found in most pharmacies, health food stores, and online. They are made by many companies, although some are better than others. If treating a certain condition, it is a good idea to do research in order to ensure that you are using the correct type of flora for treatment. Be sure to check with your family doctor about any health problems you may be having.