Is It OK To Take Acidophilus Daily?

Acidophilus, also known as lactobacillus acidophilus, is a strain of probiotic favoured by many to take when treating inflammations in the gut, vaginal infections, or in the hopes to prevent diarrhoea. That’s not the only benefits these clever microorganisms can provide, some of the other uses are.

• Treating and helping reduce a flare-up in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other inflammatory bowel conditions, such as Crohn’s disease.
• Those with an intolerance to lactose will also find taking acidophilus can help build their tolerance and support their gut.
• Used to help lower cholesterol
• Can help boost the immune system ensuring the body finds it easy to ward off colds, fever, and coughs.
• Provides friendly, good bacteria into the gut that will improve your overall mood, health, and wellbeing.

If you are wanting to learn more about acidophilus and what it’s good for, check out our dedicated blog post.

Now that you have had a brief recap on what acidophilus does, let’s move on to answering the question we have seen a lot lately, which is, is it OK to take acidophilus daily?

How much acidophilus should you take daily?

This depends on the reasoning for you to take acidophilus in the first place as you will require a different dosage. Here are the recommended amounts to take when dealing with different concerns.

For vaginal infections- When treating vaginal infections, it’s important to find the best formulation to target and treat the infections rapidly. For oral use, the recommended dosage can vary depending on the dosage found in the formulas, for optimal results consult with your doctor to discuss the best probiotics.

To prevent frequent concerns with diarrhoea- This will vary on the severity of the diarrhoea, but generally speaking, doctors would recommend taking as much as 15 billion units a day. You may also find that taking 1 to 2 billion units will also have a positive effect.

For intestinal health- To maintain your gut health it is said that taking 1 to 15 billion units of acidophilus a day will work effectively. This will not only restore balance to the gut’s flora but will also keep it healthy.

Is it better to take acidophilus or probiotics?

Acidophilus is considered the most effective strain of probiotics to introduce into your daily routine. This is mainly to do with how effective it is at treating a number of different concerns, as well as the amount of evidence and scientific studies surrounding the benefits.

One study in particular focus on how quickly many saw results and improvement after six weeks of taking acidophilus compared to other formulations containing a mixture of other probiotics.

Another reason why lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most effective probiotics is the fact that it occurs in many foods and drink, such as fermented milk drinks, such as kefir, and other probiotic enriched yoghurts. These have been proven to reduce cholesterol, calm the stomach, and rebalance the gut’s microbiome.

Is acidophilus a good probiotic to take?

Yes, acidophilus is a great probiotic to take and is one with the most scientific backing behind it. It is considered safe for most people to use and is the easiest to include into their routine with impressive results. There are many forms of acidophilus and so finding the best one for you is considered an easy task. The most potent forms are known to be grown in cow’s milk, making certain types of acidophilus cultures unsuitable for vegans, but there are also some alternatives that are known for being as effective. Here are some examples,

• Tablets
• Liquid form
• Yoghurts rich in added probiotics
• Vaginal suppositories
• Freeze-dried granules
• Freeze-dried powders
• Freeze-dried capsules

There are various dosages and formulas available, and even storing them is something to take into consideration when shopping for your probiotic supplement. Unless the packaging specifically states the product has a stabilised formulation, L. acidophilus needs to be stored in the fridge for optimal freshness and extra-long shelf live and effectiveness.

Is it possible to take too much acidophilus?

Yes, it is possible to take too much acidophilus, but this doesn’t show any signs of it causing a lot of dangerous side effects. What you may find is that you can have too much good bacteria in the gut which will result in increased bloating and gas. Some even experience abdominal discomfort, stomach cramps and frequent diarrhoea. All of these are common side effects that will subside over time, but if you find any of them to remain longer than 4 weeks or become progressively worse stop taking the supplement and seek the advice of your doctor.

For those of your who are currently undergoing treatment for serious illness or have a weakened immune system from prolonged illness or recent surgery, then you must not take anything with the consent of your GP or medically trained professional.

Is 20 billion acidophilus too much?

Not really, this is because there has been an increase in many products containing higher dosages closer to 50 to 100 billion. Whilst it may feel tempting to opt for the highest dosage possible, acidophilus is effective no matter the number of units as it will be able to target the concerns automatically. You will also find that there is no need for you to have 20 billion CFUs of acidophilus as for some, the smallest amount will have a marked impact on their overall health and wellbeing. Individuals that is relatively good shape and have a healthy, balanced lifestyle and diet will find a daily dose of 10 to 20 billion CFUs of acidophilus will support the immune system and aid digestion.

There you have a little more information about whether it is OK to take acidophilus daily. Don’t forget if you are wanting to find out more about this popular probiotic, you should check out the blog post I mentioned previously. If you have any further questions, you can find one of our experts over on our Instagram, we look forward to seeing you there!