Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a type of bacteria which is found naturally in the human digestive tract. It is generally considered to be“good” bacteria, which means that it helps keep more harmful bacteria from growing out of control. Good bacteria are often called probiotics, and they typically help aid in digestion.
There are various types of natural flora in the digestive systems of healthy humans. Some are considered to be potentially harmful, while others like lactobacillus rhamnosus are considered beneficial. These beneficial bacteria help to aid the body in digesting food, so having a high level of these healthy bacteria is important for keeping the colon clear of compacted waste. When levels get too low, “bad” bacteria have a chance to overgrow and cause intestinal upset.
The ways in which lactobacillus help keep harmful bacteria at bay generally involves the process by which they release certain chemicals into the body. They are known to give off acids, anti-surfactants, and hydrogen peroxide as byproducts. These substances inhibit the growth and adhesion of other bacteria, which usually thrive in a more alkaline environment.
In order to increase the amount of lactobacillus rhamnosus, there are various types of probiotic pills which can be purchased over the counter. They contain live cultures of the bacteria which are delivered orally into the digestive tract. Lactobacillus has also been found to inhabit both the urinary and reproductive tracts, and taking supplements may also help to keep infections of these systems from occurring. Eating yogurt and other foods containing live cultures is also beneficial for maintaining a healthy balance.
Use of lactobacillus rhamnosus has been shown to relieve or prevent a host of health problems, including constipation and other stomach upset, urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, and vaginal yeast infections. It may also be used to help those with chronic digestive problems in correlation in medication and other probiotics. The use of probiotics to treat or prevent any health problems should be supervised by a health care professional.
Very rarely lactobacillus rhamnosus has been shown to be pathogenic. This only happens under certain circumstances. Treatments for infections with this type of bacteria generally include antibiotics. As a general rule of thumb, antibiotics should only be used when absolutely necessary, as they do not differentiate between good and bad bacterial. Unnecessary use of them may cause problems because beneficial bacteria in the stomach or vagina are destroyed, resulting in temporary digestive problems or yeast infections.