Artificial sweeteners Splenda and Equal may be problematic for people with Crohn’s disease because they appear to promote the growth and adherence of E. coli.
Advances in immunology are translating into an array of new tests that enable clinicians to detect diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac, Crohn’s, and autoimmune thyroid disorders at the earliest stages when they are most responsive to lifestyle-based treatment.
A new systematic review shows that probiotic prophylaxis can prevent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, one of the most problematic side-effects antibiotic drugs.
Human breast milk contains a unique substance that may protect newborn infants from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an often lethal inflammatory condition that commonly affects premature and low birth weight babies.
Presence or absence of particular strains of beneficial bacteria in the female digestive and reproductive tracts have a much greater influence on fertility than most people realize.
The GI microbial world is comprised of 3 very different compartments: Gastric, Small Intestinal & Colonic. Each has a distinct biochemical and physiologic “climate.” Digestive heatlh–and by extension, overall health–depends on the relationships between these diverse microbial worlds.
Helicobacter pylori, one of the most common microorganisms found in the human GI tract, can definitely be pathogenic, but in many people it is not. In some, it may even be helpful: gastric colonization with H. pylori inhibits ghrelin, an appetite stimulating molecule. Some researchers argue that eradicating H. pylori actually promotes obesity. Dr. Leo Galland, a pioneer in functional medicine, opts to take the middle ground between total eradication and total tolerance of this bug.
With the growing popularity of probiotics and concerns about antibiotic overuse, there has been a lot of attention on the importance of maintaining healthy gut flora. This is certainly a positive step, but what often gets lost in the dialog is the true complexity of the gut microbiome. Dr. Leo Galland, one of the nation’s leading functional medicine physicians, offers insights on how to cultivate a healthy relationship with the microbial world within.
There’s increasing scientific evidence as well as clinical experience indicating a connection between depression–which affects roughly 120 million people worldwide–and gluten sensitivity. Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation, triggered by reactions to gluten, can result in neurobehavioral symptoms which often resolve when people go gluten-free.
All this “Listeria Hysteria” that followed the reports of contaminated cantaloupe reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode. We’re destroying a relatively healthy food by the ton, issuing dire warnings about deadly pathogens, and generally scaring an already scared public, all without taking stock of what’s really going on. I don’t mean to downplay the […]
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