Does Acidophilus Cause Weight Gain?

There are many ways of introducing the benefits of probiotics into your daily routine. From drinking probiotic enriched yoghurt drinks, to eating fermented foods, and miso soup. There are also supplement forms of probiotics that many favour due to how easy they are to use.

We have already discussed in other blog posts about probiotics and how they can benefit the body, gut, and overall general health. But today we will be focusing on a specific strain of probiotic and investigating whether it can cause weight gain.

Before we dive in, let’s have a quick recap of what acidophilus is and how it works for the body.

What is Acidophilus?

Acidophilus, also known as lactobacillus acidophilus, is a naturally occurring bacteria found in the mouth, intestine, and vagina. It is often synthetically made to form a probiotic. This probiotic is full of good bacteria that reach the gut and help to balance the gut’s microbiome. It is also one that is favoured to use in probiotics formulated specifically for women’s intimate health. Here are some examples of the benefits you can expect to see when using acidophilus.

• Can combat concerns and treat bacterial vaginosis (BV) and when taking orally can effectively reduce the inflammation.
• Is known for reducing the risk of lung infections found in children.
• Can help with certain types of diarrhoea, cramping, and bloating.
• When taken by expectant or breastfeeding mothers, acidophilus can counteract any potential of eczema occurring in their babies.

If you wanted to find out more about acidophilus and how it benefits the body, check out our dedicated blog post.

Can taking probiotics make you gain weight?

Yes, there are some strains of probiotics that can promote weight gain. It is understood that lactobacillus acidophilus is one particular strain that can cause weight gain as it can alter the growth of the bacteria in the gut. Having said that, there is a still several research needed to understand how exactly different strains of probiotics work in the gut. If you are concerned with any supplements you are taking, I would advise pausing taking them for the moment and consult with your doctor to find out whether this strain is best suited for you. Alternatively, you can instead introduce the fermented foods I have mentioned earlier to help improve your gut health and function.

Can probiotics cause bloating and weight gain?

Yes, they can all cause bloating as this is a short-lived side effect experienced by many who introduce probiotics into their daily routine. As for weight gain, this is something that occurs with specific strains of probiotics, but not all of them. Having said that, there are some other reasons that affect how your probiotics work and ways they are unable to deliver the best results. Here are some of the most common reasons your probiotics are causing you to gain weight.

1. Some probiotic drinks and food contain high amounts of sugar

As tasty as the flavoured probiotic enriched drinks can be, there is a downside to these which is the level of sugar found in the formulation. However, there is a reason for this, and that is the understanding that the probiotics in then formula can deliver faster, results. This is because the sugar in the formulation can increase the survival rate of the good bacteria found in the probiotic. The downside is the more sugar you consume, the higher risk you are at gaining weight, therefore, having these yoghurt style drinks must be part of a balanced and healthy diet.

2. The potency of the probiotic will affect how effective they are

Effective probiotics come with a shelf life, which plays an important role in how effective they are at delivering results. The lifespan of the probiotic can rely heavily on how quickly the product can make it into your hands, this could therefore lead to you unknowingly consuming live cultures that have in fact, died whilst in transit. This is why it is important to ensure you carry out your own research and find the best product for you, this is something that may take a while due to sheer number of different products available.

3. Ensure the capsules are up for the task

What I mean by this is ensuring you opt for a probiotic that has a capsule that can withstand salvia and remain intact for it to reach the gut. Many capsules disintegrate in the mouth resulting in the probiotic blend not reaching the gut making it unable to deliver the optimal results.

There you have some of the most common causes of probiotics causing you to gain weight, but as I have mentioned before, ensure you check with a doctor to find the best option for you to introduce into your routine. 

Which strains of probiotics make you gain weight?

Lactobacillus acidophilus is one strain known to cause weight gain, as well as promoting obesity. It does this by altering the bacteria levels in the gut and promotes cellular growth. This can cause some concern if you have been advised by a doctor to take probiotic supplements to help with a safe and healthy weight lose journey. Always check the label of your products to ensure you are taking the correct blend of probiotics for your health goals.

Does Lactobacillus acidophilus help you lose weight?

No, it is known for causing weight gain. If you are wanting a probiotic that can help with losing weight the best option for you is, Lactobacillus Gasseri, also known as L Gasseri. This probiotic works differently to lactobacillus acidophilus as it is a thermogenic probiotic meaning it can generate heat in the body and kick start your metabolism helping the body to burn fat quickly.

Is probiotics good for weight loss?

Yes, depending on the strain and the advice you have been given from your doctor or GP. Although some probiotics can effectively help with weight loss, it is important to maintain, and balanced and healthy lifestyle will promote the best way of keeping you and your body happy and healthy.

There you have a little information about acidophilus and whether it can cause weight gain. Don’t forget if you have any further questions, come, and follow us on Instagram. You’ll find one of our health experts in the direct messages.