Is the probiotic L. Acidophilus the same as L. Bifidus?

They are different strains with different effects. Here is a very good explanation.

Excerpt:

“How To Compare Probiotic Supplements

With so many probiotics on the market today, it is becoming more and more difficult for people to decide on which one to try. Here are some suggestions to help you make an informed decision.

Look for a probiotic with at least 15 living strains of beneficial microbes. Products containing probiotic “metabolites” rather than living microorganisms are not the same. Many products (such as yogurt) only contain one to three strains of live bacteria. Each strain of bacteria contributes a different role and works in harmony with the other strains. When only a few strains are present, the resulting health benefits are not complete. Here are examples of roles of different strains of beneficial bacteria in the Lactobacillus family:

* Stimulates the immune sytem: L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. planetarum, L. delbruekii, L. bifidus*
* Possesses anti-tumor activity: L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. planetarum, L. delbruekii, L. bulgaricus, L. helveticus, L. lactis*
* Protects from acute diarrhea: L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, L. bifidus, L. casei
* Improves lactose tolerance: L. bulgaricus, L. bifidus, L. acidophilus, L. sporogenes
* Lowers blood cholesterol levels: L. acidophilus, L. sporogenes, L. bifidus
* Aids in nutrient absorption and elimination of toxins: L. planetarum
* Protects from candida yeast: L. planetarum
* Protects from antibiotic-associated diarrhea: L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus,
* Protects from Listeria infections: L. casei, L. lactis
* Protects from Leaky Gut Syndrome: L. brevis
* Improves Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS): L. sporogenes
* Protects from harmful bacteria: L. lactis, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, L. sporogenes
* Protects from vaginal yeast infections: L. fermenti, L. acidophilus, L. bifidus
* Lowers blood pressure and increases bone density: L. helveticus
* Synthesizes B vitamins: L. lactis, L. bifidus, L. acidophilus”

Both are found in my Stonyfield Farm Organic Yogurt (and probably in my TJ’s yogurt too, haven’t checked.)

According to Wikipedia, Acidophilus is different from Bacillus (Bacillus is aka Bifidobacterium, if Wikipedia is to be believed).

@Marina I don’t know where you found that, but it’s extremely helpful! Lurve.

@evegrimm Can you check your yogurt for me and tell me if it says “live and active cultures” on the label? It would help me a lot.

They are different species of bacteria that do a similar job. L. acidophilus is the bacterium that makes yogurt and other cultured dairy products. L. bifidus is the one naturally found in the large intestine. Both are probiotics, and both are somewhat helpful but possibly not as much as we would like. Here is a discussion of the effectiveness of any of the Lactobacillus species.

Typically when a yogurt is tested, several types of Lactobacillus are found in the yogurt , but often in fairly low concentration.

@Darwin Thank you. :) Great answers to all.

@evegrimm Never mind. Apparently it has six active cultures, which is way better than most yogurt. Awesome.

Stonyfield Farm makes very good yogurt. I also like Alta Dena.

@DrasticDreamer, I just checked my Trader Joe’s yogurt, and it has four live and active cultures: S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgariucs, L. Acidophilus and Bifidus.

It’s not quite as many as Stonyfield, but it’s a lot less expensive (runs ~2.49 for 32 oz).

We’re talking about whole-milk yogurt (cream line), right? (I don’t buy anything else!)

Yogurt doesn’t have nearly as many as buying a cultured bottle of the probiotic itself. One is like eating vegetables because you know they are good for you, and the other is like eating hamburgers because they have pickles on them which are vegetables and vegetables are good for you. I hope that makes sense.

(In other words, you probably don’t get a therapeutic dose of the stuff from yogurt, unless you eat lots and lots of yogurt every day, all day.)

@laureth You can buy cultured bottles of probiotic? Do you know where?

@DrasticDreamer – We have bought them in Sun Harvest, which is a grocery store that carries healthy foods and lots of herbs, teas, and holistic substances. It isn’t quite a health food store, but is a cross between a grocery store and a health food store. If you are in the US or Canada maybe you can find one near you on this list.

@Darwin Thank you! :) What are the drinks called, so I know what kind of item I’m looking for?

@DrasticDreamer – I don’t remember brand names but we just asked the clerk in Sun Harvest for it. We had a choice between capsules and a paste that you could add to other foods. Typically we added it to smoothies, and it was found in the vitamin aisle.

We also bought kefir (pronounced KEY-furr), which is kept in the cooler next to all the various yogurts. Kefir can be made from cow’s, goat’s or sheep’s milk, as well as from plant “milks” such as soy, rice or even coconut.

Horizon Organic produces sour cream and cottage cheese with added probiotics, Kashi makes a breakfast cereal called Vive that contains probiotics, Attune makes Wellness Bars in three chocolate varieties and three yogurt and granola flavors that are supposed to contain prophylactic levels of probiotcs, some juice companies have offerings with probiotics, and there is Yakult Dairy Drink, a citrus-flavored probiotic drink, as well as Ricera Rice Yogurt (in case you can’t eat dairy).

Here is a list of some brand names.

@Darwin You’ve been a really great help and extremely informative. Thank you, really. I would lurve you ten times if I could. :)

Glad I could help. My daughter only survived the worst diaper rash in the history of the world because of probiotics. She was born missing bits in her immune system.