The Gutbliss Weekly Review – June 3, 2016

1. An apple a day and a statin a day show statistically equal effects in protecting against death from vascular disease. Researchers conclude, “With similar reductions in mortality, a 150 year old health promotion message is able to match modern medicine and is likely to have fewer side effects.” Eat more apples, take less medicine! BMJ

 

2. Vitamin D3 supplementation increases microbial diversity, decreases pathogenic bacteria, and results in a less inflammatory environment in the upper GI tract. Over an 8-week period, 16 participants were given 980 IU/kg bodyweight the first 4 weeks and 490 IU/kg bodyweight the second 4 weeks. These findings support the use of a vitamin D-rich diet for those diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease or other bacterial infections. European Journal of Nutrition

 

3. Daily consumption of probiotics in fermented foods may preserve gut bacteria diversity and relieve the onset of abdominal symptoms (bloating, gas, and abdominal pain) caused by stress. Applied & Environmental Microbiology

 

4. Dirt could mitigate the microbial imbalance and inflammation caused by stress. A new study shows that stress disrupts microbial imbalance, causing inflammation in the body. But when exposed to Mycobacterium vaccae, a microorganism prevalent in dirt, stress-induced microbial imbalance is prevented. Could dirt also be a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 

5. Scientists developed a laser that can detect bacteria on the surface of food, helping to prevent food poisoning – a rising public health concern resulting in 500 deaths annually. In future models, the device will attach to smart phones for use in grocery stores and restaurants and “smart refrigerators” to alert the consumer when foods have gone bad. The Guardian

 

6. coli bacteria resistant to all known antibiotics infects a 46 year old woman. While she survived, the issue of antibiotic resistance has never been more pressing. To reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance, minimize your antibiotic exposure by taking them only when absolutely necessary (read The Microbiome Solution for important questions to ask your doctor when prescribed an antibiotic), and choosing organic foods that are free of antibiotics. MPR

 

7. Researchers are creating an antibiotic that only targets pathogenic or “bad” bacteria. Just one round of antibiotics can wipe out up to a 3rd of your gut bacteria (both good and bad) with no promise that the beneficial strains will ever return. Since the microbiome is a driving force for long-term health, a targeted antibiotic that spares essential gut flora would be a big step in improving health worldwide. NPR

 

8. Daniel Neides from the Cleveland Clinic recommends avoiding drastic detox practices, such as colonics (which destroy beneficial bacteria), and encourages a daily detox through food, such as wild caught salmon and sardines, nuts and seeds, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, onions, garlic, cilantro, parsley, carrots, green apples, turmeric, cabbage, watermelon, lettuces, fermented foods, and foods high in indigestible plant fiber, as well as plenty of water, and daily exercise. Cleveland Clinic

 

9. The microbiome plays a strong role in influencing diabetes and metabolism, and could hold the key to a cure for diabetes. But establishing a causal relationship by identifying the microbial aspects – both pathogenic and protective – that initiate metabolic change is needed to develop tangible treatment options. Business Wire

 

10. Poop is becoming a popular conversation piece, and at Gutbliss, we couldn’t be happier! Check out The Everything Guide to Poop. While Gutbliss doesn’t endorse everything mentioned here, and while some of it is strictly for the sake of humor, it’s nice to see poop making such a splash in the media! New York Magazine

 

By: Leslie Ann Berg, MSPH