Your small intestine is where most food digestion takes place. This section of your gastrointestinal tract is host to many types of bacteria, but by far the most important friendly bacteria resident in your small intestine is Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Lactobacilli bacteria help with digestion by producing the enzyme lactase, which is essential for the digestion of dairy products. They also produce lactic acid from carbohydrates, creating an acidic environment that can help regulate bad bacteria that prefer a more alkaline environment.

Lactobacillus acidophilus adhere strongly to the walls of your intestine, taking up "parking spaces" and denying room to undesirable bacteria. Certain strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, which may not be available in most probiotic brands, can also produce hydrogen peroxide and natural anti-microbial substances that create an environment that can help regulate bad bacteria. All these properties aid in an effective digestive process, and can help support regularity.

Natren was the first company to introduce a potent single strain concentrated Lactobacillus acidophilus powder containing live bacteria requiring refrigeration, called MEGADOPHILUS^®. In fact, MEGADOPHILUS launched the category of probiotics in North America in the 1980s.

Descended from a distinguished and successful Yugoslavian family with a 750-year history of making the finest cultured milk products, Natren founder Natasha Trenev developed a lifelong passion for probiotics.

After many years of research into the science behind and health benefits of probiotic cultures, she began culturing her own probiotic supplements in 1980, identifying, isolating and concentrating an effective single strain of acidophilus. Natasha then developed a system to keep the live bacterias’ potency viable by packaging it in a glass bottle with a tin lid and demanding refrigerated handling throughout distribution.

She and her husband, Yordan Trenev, founded Natren in 1982, with the mission to manufacture the finest probiotics available worldwide. Initially, Yordan trucked in dry ice daily to keep the probiotic products alive and well, while stored in the family garage. Years later, Natren set a global standard for excellence and reliability, operating in a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical grade facility adhering to stringent international standards.

Natren MEGADOPHILUS remains revolutionary in that the live bacteria are kept in their original culturing medium, or supernatant.