The Onion – Breakthrough Discovery of Gut Flora Superfood – THE LAPINE

The Onion – Breakthrough Discovery of Gut Flora Superfood – THE LAPINE

The Onion – Breakthrough Discovery of Gut Flora Superfood

by The Lapine · February 13, 2013

0Shares

0

0

U.S.
Doctors are recommending people eat a raw Onion a day for gas-free
digestion and effortless bowel movements, following the release of a
5-year study on the effects of eating the root vegetable.

“The
days of burping are over.  The days of grunting on the toilet are
over.  The Onion is the answer,” says a media release from Biodiversity
Studies at California’s UCLA.  “This is a major finding about a food
we’ve mostly used for A&W Onion rings.”

The
study conducted jointly by UCLA, Gonzgaga University, and Idaho
Vocational College, studied more than 2,400 males and females and
discovered that consuming a minimum of 5 ounces of raw onion immediately
increased digestive activity, lowered cholestrol, balanced sugar blood
levels, and, with teenage study participants, totally cleared up acne
problems.

“And
as a bonus, your daily plop is very compact and easy to void…about the
size of a BIC lighter,” said Dr. Ida Knowles, Director of Feces Studies
at UCLA.   

The
study’s overview says,  “Most often seen as a condiment, the Onion has
been discovered to be full of amibo vitamins, probloatactic acids that
help digestion, and quite amazing fungelai that really create a flora
and fauna fiesta in people’s colons.”

The
release of the study results is expected to lead to an increase in
Onion sales and the American Farmers Of Onions and Leeks organization
says their members are already moving to increase crop production to
meet demand.

“The
Onion is taking over.  Spanish, Red, Purple, Yellow, or the new Chinese
Hybrid Onion that tastes like chicken, we’re planting ’em all,” said
South Dakota farmer Dug Fleubenhauven (pronounced “Smith”). 

And
so with this breakthrough study, an old saying has come dramatically
alive again with one small  change — an apple has become an onion.

“An
Onion a day keeps the doctor away,” says a television public service
announcement from the Physicians’ Union of California (PUC) trumpeting
the research results but making no mention of the common Onion causing
bad breath.

“This
is beyond belief,” said weekly newspaper food critic Anna Fry, an Olive
Garden franchisee in Phoenix as she bit into a Arizona All-White
Onion.  “But the science behind the Onion is 100% true.  You can now
believe it.”

Alcohol and Leaky Gut Syndrome

Alcohol and Leaky Gut Syndrome




Alcohol is viewed as one of the main causes of leaky gut syndrome. It
is already accepted that alcohol can have a toxic effect on almost
every organ in the body. It is now suggested that alcohol causes
intestinal permeability. This is believed to occur because alcohol
suppresses the production of prostaglandins. These hormonal substances
are needed because they are able to moderate inflammation. If
prostaglandins are in low supply then it allows inflammation to cause
more damage inside the gut. Another mechanism by which alcohol
exacerbates leaky gut syndrome is that it prevents some important
nutrients from being transported from the intestine into the blood.

Pathogenic Clostridia, Including Botulism and Tetanus

Pathogenic Clostridia, Including Botulism and Tetanus



Pathogenic Clostridia, including Botulism and Tetanus (page 1)





























(This chapter has 4 pages)











Clostridium botulinum









Clostridia









The genus



Clostridium consists of relatively large, Gram-positive,



rod-shaped



bacteria in the Phylum Firmicutes



(Clostridia is actually a



Class in the Phylum).



All species form endospores



and have a strictly fermentative type of



metabolism.



Most clostridia will not grow under aerobic conditions and vegetative



cells



are killed by exposure to O₂, but their spores are able to



survive long



periods of exposure to air.



The clostridia are ancient organisms that live in virtually all of



the



anaerobic habitats of nature where organic compounds are present,



including



soils, aquatic sediments and the intestinal tracts of animals.









Clostridia are able to ferment a wide variety of organic compounds.



They produce end products such as butyric acid, acetic acid, butanol



and



acetone, and large amounts of gas (CO₂ and H₂)



during fermentation of



sugars.



A variety of foul smelling compounds are formed during the fermentation



of amino acids and fatty acids. The clostridia also produce a wide



variety



of extracellular enzymes to degrade large biological molecules (e.g.



proteins, lipids, collagen, cellulose, etc.) in the



environment



into fermentable components. Hence, the clostridia play an important



role



in nature in biodegradation and the carbon cycle. In anaerobic



clostridial



infections, these enzymes play a role in invasion and pathology.









Most of the clostridia are saprophytes, but a few are pathogenic for



humans, primarily Clostridium



perfringens, C. difficile, C. tetani and C. botulinum. Those that are pathogens



have primarily a saprophytic existence



in nature and, in a sense, are opportunistic pathogens. Clostridium



tetani and Clostridium botulinum produce the most potent



biological



toxins known to affect humans. As pathogens of tetanus and food-borne



botulism,



they owe their virulence almost entirely to their toxigenicity. Other



clostridia,



however, are highly invasive under certain circumstances.














Stained pus from a mixed



anaerobic



infection. At least three different clostridia are apparent.









Clostridium perfringens


















C. perfringens













Clostridium perfringens, which produces a huge array of



invasins



and exotoxins, causes wound and surgical infections that lead



to



gas



gangrene, in addition to severe uterine infections.



Clostridial



hemolysins and extracellular enzymes such as proteases, lipases,



collagenase



and hyaluronidase, contribute to the invasive process. Clostridium



perfringens



also produces an enterotoxin and is an important cause of food



poisoning.



Usually the organism is encountered in improperly sterilized (canned)



foods



in which endospores have germinated.









Food poisoning




Clostridium perfringens is classified into 5 types (A�E) on



the basis of its ability to produce one or more of the major lethal



toxins, alpha, beta, epsilon and iota (α, β, ε, and ι). Enterotoxin



(CPE)-producing (cpe+) C.



perfringens type A is reported continuously as one of the most



common food poisoning agents worldwide. An increasing number of reports



also implicate the organism in 5%�15% of antibiotic�associated



diarrhea (AAD) and sporadic diarrhea (SD) cases in humans, as well as



diarrhea cases in animals.










Most food poisoning strains studied carry cpe in their



chromosomes; isolates from AAD and SD cases bear cpe in a



plasmid. Why C. perfringens strains with cpe



located on chromosomes or plasmids cause different diseases has not



been satisfactorily explained. However, the relatively greater heat



resistance of the strains with chromosomally located cpe is a



plausible explanation for these strains' survival in cooked food, thus



causing instances of food poisonings. The presence of C.



perfringens strains with chromosomally located cpe in



1.4% of American retail food indicates that these strains have an



access to the food chain, although sources and routes of contamination



are unclear.










An explanation for the strong association between C. perfringens



strains with plasmid-located cpe and cases of AAD and SD



disease may be in vivo transfer of the cpe plasmid to C.



perfringens strains of the normal intestinal microbiota.



Thus, a small amount of ingested cpe+ C. perfringens



would act as an infectious agent and transfer the cpe plasmid



to cpe� C. perfringens strains of the normal



microbiota. Conjugative transfer of the cpe plasmid has been



demonstrated in vitro, but no data exist on horizontal gene



transfer of cpe in vivo, and whether cpe+ strains



that cause AAD and SD are resident in the gastrointestinal tract or



acquired before onset of the disease is unknown.

---

Case Study





Report of C. perfringens Food



Poisoning









Clostridium perfringens



is a common cause of outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United



States,



especially outbreaks in which cooked beef is the implicated source.



This



is a condensed version of an MMWR report that describes an outbreak of



C.



perfringens gastroenteritis following St. Patrick's Day meals of



corned



beef. The report typifies outbreaks of C. perfringens food



poisoning.









Report








On March 18, 1993, the



Cleveland



City Health Department received telephone calls from 15 persons who



became



ill after eating  corned beef purchased from one delicatessen.



After



a local newspaper article publicized this problem, 156 persons



contacted



the health department to report onset of diarrheal illness within 48



hours



of eating food from the delicatessen on March 16 or March 17. Symptoms



included abdominal cramps (88%) and vomiting (13%); no persons were



hospitalized.



The median incubation period was 12 hours (range: 2-48 hours). Of the



156



persons reporting illness, 144 (92%) reported having eaten corned beef;



20 (13%), pickles; 12 (8%), potato salad; and 11 (7%), roast beef.









In anticipation of a large



demand



for corned beef on St. Patrick's Day (March 17), the delicatessen had



purchased



1400 pounds of raw, salt-cured product. Beginning March 12, portions of



the corned beef were boiled for 3 hours at the delicatessen, allowed to



cool at room temperature, and refrigerated. On March 16 and 17, the



portions



were removed from the refrigerator, held in a warmer at 120^oF



(48.8^oC), and sliced and served. Corned beef sandwiches also



were made for



catering



to several groups on March 17; these sandwiches were held at room



temperature



from 11 a.m. until they were eaten throughout the afternoon.









Cultures of two of three



samples



of leftover corned beef obtained from the delicatessen yielded greater



than or equal to 10⁵ colonies of C. perfringens per



gram.









Following the outbreak,



public



health officials recommended to the delicatessen that meat not served



immediately



after cooking be divided into small pieces, placed in shallow pans and



chilled rapidly on ice before refrigerating, and that cooked meat be



reheated



immediately before serving to an internal temperature of greater than



or



equal to 165^oF (74 C).









Analysis








C. perfringens is a



ubiquitous,



anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacillus and a frequent



contaminant



of meat and poultry.



C. perfringens food poisoning is characterized



by onset of abdominal cramps and diarrhea 8-16 hours after eating



contaminated



meat or poultry. By sporulating, this organism can survive high



temperatures



during initial cooking; the spores germinate during cooling of the



food,



and vegetative forms of the organism multiply if the food is



subsequently



held at temperatures of 60-125^oF (16-52^oC). If



served without



adequate



reheating, live vegetative forms of C. perfringens may be



ingested.



The bacteria then elaborate the enterotoxin that causes the



characteristic



symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal cramping.









Laboratory confirmation of C.



perfringens foodborne outbreaks requires quantitative cultures of



implicated



food or stool from ill persons. This outbreak was confirmed by the



recovery



of greater than or equal to 10⁵  organisms per gram of



epidemiologically



implicated food. An alternate criterion is that cultures of stool



samples



from persons affected yield greater than or equal to 10⁶



colonies



per gram. Stool cultures were not done in this outbreak. 



Serotyping



is not useful for confirming C. perfringens outbreaks and, in



general,



is not available.









Corned beef is a popular



ethnic



dish that is commonly served to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The errors



in preparation of the corned beef in this outbreak were typical of



those



associated with previously reported foodborne outbreaks of C.



perfringens. Improper



holding temperatures are a contributing factor in most C.



perfringens



outbreaks



reported to CDC. To avoid illness caused by this



organism, food should be eaten while still hot or reheated to an



internal



temperature of greater than or equal to 165^oF (74^oC)



before serving.

---

Gas gangrene









Gas gangrene generally occurs at the site of



trauma or a recent surgical wound. The onset of gas gangrene is sudden



and dramatic. About a third of cases occur on their own. Patients who



develop this disease in this manner often have underlying blood vessel



disease (atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries), diabetes, or



colon cancer.



Clostridium perfringens



produces many



different toxins, four of



which



(alpha, beta, epsilon, iota) can cause potentially deadly syndromes.



The toxins cause damage to tissues, blood cells, and blood vessels.










Gas gangrene is marked by a high fever, brownish pus, gas



bubbles under the skin, skin discoloration, and a foul odor. It is the



rarest form of gangrene, and only 1,000 to 3,000 cases occur in the



United States each year. It can be fatal



if not treated immediately.










Clostridium perfringens,



Gram Stain. Most clostridia are renowned for staining "Gram-variable".

Your Gut Bacteria Linked to Your Risk for Heart Disease

Your Gut Bacteria Linked to Your Risk for Heart Disease





A
new mechanism has been discovered that connects phosphatidyl choline
(also called lecithin), a common dietary fat, along with intestinal
microflora, to an increased risk of heart disease. The study shows that
the heart risk of people with a diet high in the lipid depends on how
the micro-organisms that live in their digestive tracts metabolize it.


When lecithin and choline were fed to mice, the substances were
converted to a heart disease-forming product by the intestinal microbes.
In humans, higher blood levels of choline and the heart disease forming
microorganism products are strongly associated with increased
cardiovascular disease risk.


According to Science Daily:

“... [D]ifferences in gut flora metabolism of the diet from one
person to another appear to have a big effect on whether one develops
heart disease.”

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

How Probiotics May Aid Your Weight Management

How Probiotics May Aid Your Weight Management

Visit the Mercola Video Library

By Dr. Mercola

Your gastrointestinal tract houses some 100 trillion bacteria—about two to three pounds worth. In all, the bacteria outnumber your body's cells by about 10 to 1.



Your intestinal bacteria are part of your immune system, and researchers
are discovering that microbes of all kinds play instrumental roles in
countless areas of your health. For example, beneficial bacteria, also
known as probiotics, have been shown to:

• Modulate your immune response and reduce inflammation
• Produce vitamins, absorb minerals, and eliminate toxins
• Control asthma and reduce risk of allergies
• Benefit  your mood and mental health
• Boost weight loss

Beneficial bacteria also control the growth of disease-causing
bacteria by competing for nutrition and attachment sites in your colon.
This is of immense importance, as pathogenic bacteria and other less
beneficial microbes can wreak havoc with your health if they gain the
upper hand. It can also affect your weight, as you'll see below.



For all of these reasons, and more, I always recommend a diet rich in
whole, unprocessed foods along with cultured or fermented foods. A
high-quality probiotic supplement can also be a helpful ally to restore
healthful balance to your microbiotia—especially when taking
antibiotics.

The Diet-Bacteria-Weight Connection

Bacterial imbalance in your gut can be made worse by processed foods and
foods that have been pasteurized or sterilized. Other factors affecting
your gut flora include where you live, your age, your stress level, and
any health issues you may have. Like processed foods, sugar also
promotes the growth of disease-causing yeasts and fungi.



Symptoms of a yeast (candida) overgrowth include fatigue, depression,
irritability, headaches, problems concentrating, muscle weakness,
recurrent vaginal and urinary tract infections, athlete's foot, jock
itch, persistent heartburn, indigestion, constipation, swollen joints,
nasal congestion, and sore throat.¹



In case you don't have reason enough yet to re-evaluate your sugar and
fructose intake, here's another twist in the sugar-obesity connection:
researchers have discovered a difference in gut bacteria between the
overweight and those of normal weight.²



In the obese, a bacterial strain known as firmicutes is found in much greater abundance than in leaner individuals. In those of normal weight, the bacteroidetes strain is in greater supply.



The firmicutes bacteria appear to be much better than the bacteroidetes
strain at turning calories from complex sugars into fat. As those who
are overweight begin to slim down, the bacterial balance shifts from
predominantly firmicutes to predominantly bacteroidetes.
Research published last year discovered that as much as 20 percent of
the substantial weight loss achieved from gastric bypass, a popular
weight loss surgery, is actually due to shifts in the balance of
bacteria in your digestive tract.³

Bacteria Can Affect Your Food Cravings, and Weight Loss Success

According to the most recent study, a strain of friendly bacteria called Lactobacillus rhamnosus also appears to be quite helpful for weight loss in women.⁴ As reported in the featured article:

"The controlled clinical trial was set up so that the first 12 weeks
women were guided to eat less food and some were additionally given the
Lactobacillus rhamnosus. After 12 weeks the amount of weight loss was
greater in the group receiving the friendly flora supplement.

Over the next 12 weeks the dietary restrictions were lifted, and the
friendly flora was continued. Those women not taking Lactobacillus
rhamnosus now gained weight, whereas the friendly flora group continued
to lose weight. The weight loss benefit was linked to measurements of
the bacterial profile of the digestive tract. This study is the
latest to show that the balance of power in the digestive tract is a
metabolic variable of high importance and nothing to ignore as part of a
long-term successful weight loss plan."

As it relates to weight management, one hypothesis states that your gut
bacteria may in fact be in control of your appetite. Recent research⁵
suggests there's a positive-feedback loop between the foods you crave
and the composition of the microbiota in your gut that depend on those
nutrients for their survival. Microbes that thrive on sugar, for
example, can signal your brain to eat more sweets. Other studies⁶,⁷
have shown that certain bacteria found in your gut can produce insulin
resistance and weight gain by triggering chronic low-grade inflammation
in your body. Three such culprits include:

• Endotoxin-producing Enterobacter⁸
• Staphylococcus aureus⁹ (an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria)
• The human adenovirus-36 (a cause of respiratory infections and pinkeye)

Yet another recent study revealed that a breath test of the gases
given off by your gut bacteria might actually be able to predict your
likelihood of becoming obese. The study found that people with high
levels of hydrogen and methane in their breath are more likely to have a
higher body-mass index (BMI) and proportion of body fat.¹⁰
This, the researchers believe, may be because the related gut bacteria
influence your body's ability to extract calories from food, leading to
weight gain.

Diets, Not Borders, Dictate Gut Bacteria

It's important to understand that while your gut microbes may have a
tremendous say in you bodily processes, YOU are ultimately in control of
your intestinal microflora—through the foods you eat. Science News¹¹
recently ran an article about how local diets dictate the bacterial
balance found in residents. For example, despite living on opposite ends
of the Earth, people in Malawi and the Guahibo of Venezuela have
similar microbial makeup, courtesy of the similarities between their
native diets.

"Americans, on the other hand, have a distinctive microbiome with about 25 percent less diversity than indigenous Venezuelans," the article states.

One of the primary differences between the diets is meat consumption.
Malawian and Guahibo diets are high in corn and cassava, with an
occasional piece of meat. Americans, on the other hand, are far more
carnivorous, and also eat far more bread, lettuce and tomatoes,
potatoes, pasta, milk and dairy products. The microbial makeup of the
three groups reveals these dietary differences. Needless to say,
altering your diet has a direct impact on the microbial community
residing in your gut—for better or worse. According to Science News:¹²

"A more recent study found that major diet shifts can change the mix of gut microbes noticeably in just a day.
Omnivores switching to a diet of all animal products saw the biggest
change, as some bacteria boomed and others declined. Microbes settled
back to their previous profiles a day or two after subjects returned to
their usual diets..." [Emphasis mine]

A More Complete Understanding of the Gut Could Change Modern Medicine...

There are three major collaborative efforts underway that help deepen our understanding of the human microbiome:

• The International Human Microbiome Consortium¹³
• The US National Institute of Health's Human Microbiome Project¹⁴
• The American Gut Project

So far, the NIH's Human Microbiome Project alone has produced 190
scientific papers, along with a repository of resources that scientists
can access to explore the relationships between human gut bacteria and
disease. The American Gut Project decided to take it a step further by
allowing the American public to participate.¹⁵
All the gathered information from this project will eventually be made
public. It's an extremely ambitious project seeking to identify the
parameters for the ideal gut flora, and how your diet affects it.



What's particularly exciting about the American Gut Project is the fact
that it will allow us to really evaluate and compare the effects of a
very diverse conglomeration of lifestyles. Scientific studies almost
always focus on carefully chosen groups of people who are studied for a
specific purpose, typically to confirm or debunk a hypothesis. This
project, on the other hand, will crack the lid open on the effects on
gut flora of a myriad of lifestyle choices, by people of all ethnicities
and ages.



If we can better understand how diet and lifestyle—whether by choice or
necessity—affect your microbial makeup, doctors may eventually be able
to precisely address health problems and disease through dietary
prescriptions known to shift the microbial population in one direction
or another.

Diet and Lifestyle Dos and Don'ts

Granted, I don't see any point in waiting for such
confirmations. The fundamentals are already quite well understood, and
include a rather concise list of dos and don'ts. When it comes to diet,
you want to eat mostly whole, fresh, unadulterated foods,
taking pains to avoid sugars and processed/pasteurized and genetically
engineered foods of all kinds. Add to that a healthy amount of
traditionally fermented foods each day and you're off to a good start.



A strong case can be made for eating organic to protect your gut flora
as agricultural chemicals take a heavy toll on beneficial microbes—both
in the soil in which the food is grown, and in your body. Glyphosate
(Roundup), used in particularly hefty amounts on genetically engineered
crops, appears to be among the worst of the most widely used chemicals
in food production. As for general lifestyle advice, you'll want to
avoid well-known culprits that kill beneficial bacteria, such as:

• Antibiotics (also note that most store-bought beef typically comes from cattle raised with antibiotics. To avoid getting a low dose of antibiotics in every piece of meat you eat, make sure your meat is grass-fed and finished)
• Chlorinated water
• Antibacterial soap
• Pollution

Foods 'for Life'

In contrast to the pesticide effect of processed foods and sugar on the
state of your health, fermented foods act as natural fertilizers, if you
will—providing nutrients and promoting growth of healthy bacteria in
your digestive tract. For ages, humans have used fermented foods to
improve intestinal health. As an added boon, fermented foods are also
some of the best chelators and detox agents available, meaning they can
help rid your body of a wide variety of toxins, including heavy metals
and pesticides.  Examples of healthy fermented foods include:

• Sauerkraut, pickles, and other fermented vegetables
• Fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt and kefir made from raw (unpasteurized) dairy
• Miso
• Tempeh
• Olives

To Be 'Alive,' the Food Must Be Unprocessed and Not Pasteurized...

It is important to note that traditionally fermented foods are not the
equivalent of the same foods, commercially processed and pasteurized.¹⁶ Fortunately, preparing your own fermented foods
at home is quite easy, and very cost effective. For instructions,
please see my previous interview with Caroline Barringer, a Nutritional
Therapy Practitioner (NTP), and an expert in the preparation of the
gut-nourishing foods prescribed in Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride's Gut
and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) Nutritional Program.



Caroline recommends eating about a quarter to half a cup (2 to 4 oz) of
fermented vegetables or other cultured food, such as raw yoghurt, with
one to three meals per day. Bear in mind that since cultured foods are
efficient detoxifiers, you may experience detox symptoms if you
introduce too many at once. So start with very small servings—as little
as a teaspoon of fermented vegetables, for example, or even just a spoon
or two of the juice—and slowly work your way up to the quarter to half
cup serving size. This way your intestinal microbiota has the chance to
adjust.

For Optimal Health, Pay Attention to Your Gut

Two things are clear:

• Sufficient amounts of friendly bacteria are fundamental to your good
  health. It's impossible to be optimally healthy if your gut's bacterial
  balance is out of whack.
• Your lifestyle –your diet, medications, the antibacterial cleansers
  you use, and other factors outside your control – are working together
  to compromise the number of lifesaving friendly bacteria in your
  digestive system.

Maintaining a good balance of gut bacteria through diet is one of the
most important things you can do to increase your chances of remaining
healthy and vital for a lifetime. Remember, a gut-healthy diet is one
that is rich in whole, unprocessed, unsweetened foods, along with
traditionally fermented or cultured foods. And, although I'm not a major
proponent of taking many supplements (as I believe the majority of your
nutrients need to come from food), probiotics is an exception if you
don't eat fermented foods on a regular basis.

Alcoholism linked to lack of intestinal bacteria | ScienceNordic

Alcoholism linked to lack of intestinal bacteria | ScienceNordic

October 20, 2014 - 06:23

New study suggests connection between the gut flora and addiction to alcohol.

Keywords:


Alcohol, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, Gut bacteria, intestines

SendPDFPrint

By: Anne Ringgaard

It
could be that some alcoholics have a particularly hard time quitting
the alcohol because they have fewer intestinal bacteria than other
people. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A new study suggests that bacteria in the gut may play a role in alcohol addiction and the risk of relapse after rehab.

"Our
results provides strong evidence that alcohol addiction is not only in
the brain, but that it in some cases can be associated with an imbalance
in the intestinal flora,” said Professor Fredrik Bäckhed from the
University of Gothenburg during a guest lecture at Novo Nordisk
Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at Copenhagen University.

Some alcoholics have fewer intestinal bacteria

In the study, which was recently published in the journal PNAS, Bäckhed and his colleagues from Belgium and Sweden have analysed the intestinal bacteria composition of 60 alcoholics.

The 60 alcoholics in the study had an equal use of alcohol.

After
the test participants had spent 19 days in rehab it became apparent to
the scientists that there was a big difference in how well the
participants recovered: their well-being and risk of relapse was
connected to their gut flora.

26 out of the 60 alcoholics suffered
from leaky gut syndrome and generally had a low amount of intestinal
bacteria -- specially their levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii,
which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, were detected as
unusually low. The leaky gut syndrome is linked to inflammation of the
gut and diseases like Crohn disease.

After 19 days without alcohol
the 26 test subjects still scored high on tests that measuered
depression, anxiety, and alcohol cravings. There was in fact not much
difference from before they went to rehab.

In comparison, the
remaining 34 subjects with normal gut flora were recovering much better,
scoring low on depression, anxiety, and alcohol cravings. In fact,
their scores decreased to levels comparable with the control group who
didn't have a drinking problem.

On the basis of these results the
scientists concluded that intestinal flora is connected to the
likelihood of relapse after sobering up in rehab.

Bäckhed hopes that the study will lead to new treatment possibilities for alcoholics where the intestinal flora is considered.

Our results strongly suggest that alcohol addiction is not only a problem which starts in the brain

Professor Bäckhed

"It
appears that some alcoholics may need a different treatment than
others. The study has an interesting treatment potential,“ he said.

Professor: The study does not prove a connection

Professor Ove
Schaffalitzky, head of research at the department of gastroenterology,
University of Southern Denmark, is not entirely convinced that the new
study shows a link between intestinal bacterial flora and alcohol
addiction. He was not involved in the study, but has read it.

“The study does indeed show a correlation, however, this doesn't necessarily prove anything," said Schaffalitzky.

Even
though there is some overlap it does not prove that there is a
connection between intestinal flora and increased alcohol addiction, he
says.

“There can be other explanatory factors which the study does
not account for. It may be that the test subjects have a special
drinking pattern or diet, have other illnesses, have a special gut or
something else. There are many uncertain points in the hypothesis,” said
Schaffalitzky.

The brain-gut connection is still not clear

Although Bäckhed is
certain that there is a link between the bacteria in the gut and alcohol
addiction, he also stresses that there is a need for more studies,
before we can understand the exact relation.

“It's the first time
we have shown that there is a correlation between alcohol craving and
bacterial gut composition. Previously studies with mice have produced
similar results," said Bäckhed. "However, we still don't know how the
connection between the gut and the brain works."

Clostridia: This Gut Bacteria Protect Against Food Allergies

Clostridia: This Gut Bacteria Protect Against Food Allergies



By Dr. Mercola

Your body’s microbiome—colonies of various microbes that reside in
your gut and elsewhere in and on your body—is as unique to you as your
fingerprint. 



It varies from person to person based on factors such as diet,
lifestyle, health history, geographic location, and even ancestry. Your microbiome is in fact one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet.



In terms of ratios, your bacteria outnumber your body’s cells by 10 to
1, and viruses outnumber bacteria 10 to 1! So not only is your body the
home of 100 trillion bacteria, you also house about one quadrillion
viruses (bacteriophages).



All of these organisms perform a multitude of functions in key
biological systems, and need to be properly balanced and cared for in
order to maintain good health.



For example, your gut bacteria influence your immune responses, nervous
system functioning, and play a role in the development of any number of
diseases, including food allergies, as demonstrated by recent research.

Allergies are on the Rise Across the Western World

Food allergies affect some 15 million Americans, including one in 13
children. Disturbing statistics also point out that potentially deadly
food allergies are on the rise. For example, between 1997 and 2011
alone, food allergies in children rose by 50 percent!



Inner-city kids are at greatest risk. In one study,¹
10 percent of children raised in large cities developed a food allergy
before the age of five. Twenty-nine percent developed food sensitivity.
The most common food allergy was peanuts (6 percent), followed by eggs
(4.3 percent), and pasteurized milk (2.7 percent).



City dwellers also have a heightened risk of asthma and other
environmental allergies. Similarly, in Great Britain one in three people
is allergic to something, be it pollen, dust mites, or food.²



Previous research has drawn parallels between the rise in allergies and increased antibiotic and antimicrobial use. According to British researchers,³ exposure to antibiotics early in life may increase your child’s risk of developing eczema by 40 percent.



Other scientists have clearly shown how genetically engineered foods and the use of the agricultural herbicide glyphosate destroys gut bacteria and promotes allergies. One recent study adds further credence to the disturbed microbiome hypothesis.

Certain Gut Bacteria Protect Against Food Allergies

The study,^{4, 5} which used mice, found that a common gut bacteria called Clostridia helps prevent sensitization to food allergens. In fact, immune responses to food allergens were reversed once Clostridia bacteria were put back into the mice.



Another common type of gut bacteria, Bacteroides, did not have this effect, suggesting Clostridia may have a unique role in this regard.



Using genetic analysis, the researchers determined that Clostridia
instructs immune cells to produce a signaling molecule called
interleukin-22 (IL-22), which is known to reduce the permeability of the
lining in your intestines.



In other words, it helps prevent leaky gut syndrome—a condition that
allows allergens to enter your bloodstream, thereby producing an immune
response. The researchers suggest this discovery may eventually lead to
probiotic therapies to treat food allergies. As reported by
HealthCanal.com:⁶

“By inducing immune responses that prevent food allergens from
entering the bloodstream, Clostridia minimize allergen exposure and
prevent sensitization -- a key step in the development of food
allergies...



Although the causes of food allergy... are unknown, studies have
hinted that modern hygienic or dietary practices may play a role by
disturbing the body's natural bacterial composition...



‘Environmental stimuli such as antibiotic overuse, high fat diets,
caesarean birth, removal of common pathogens and even formula feeding
have affected the microbiota with which we've co-evolved,’ said study
senior author Cathryn Nagler, PhD, Bunning Food Allergy Professor at the
University of Chicago.



‘Our results suggest this could contribute to the increasing susceptibility to food allergies.’"

Early Disruption of Gut Flora May Also Promote Metabolic Problems

In addition to an increased risk for allergies, early disruption of your
microbiome can also have long-term effects on your metabolism. One
recent study suggests that exposing infants to antibiotics may in fact
predispose them to obesity.



The study, published in the journal Cell,^{7, 8}
points to there being a window of time when changes to the microbiome
can have a serious and long-term impact on your body’s metabolism.



This window was the first month of life in mice. Translating that to a
human time scale—provided the effect fully applies to humans—it would
correlate to a time frame of the first six months; potentially up to the
first three years. Mice given antibiotics for the first four weeks of
life grew up to be 25 percent heavier, and had 60 percent more body fat
than the controls.



The researchers identified four specific species of gut bacteria that
appeared to be of particular importance with regards to metabolism: Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Rikenelleceae, and Candidatus arthromitus (the last one is not found in humans).



Eradicating these four species of bacteria in the mice’s guts triggered metabolic changes that led to obesity. As reported by The Guardian:⁹

“The findings... build on earlier work that found children who had
antibiotics before six months of age were more likely to be overweight
as seven-year-olds.



‘This is part of a growing body of evidence that antibiotics have a
biological cost,’ said Martin Blaser, a microbiologist who led the study
at New York University. ‘Our study shows that there can be permanent
consequences.’



‘If a kid is very ill, there is no question that they should get
antibiotics, but if it's marginal perhaps the doctor should be saying
'let's wait a day or two' before taking another look.



Doctors give out antibiotics thinking they won't do any harm, but
this provides evidence that they might,’ Blaser added... ‘We found that
four weeks of antibiotics was enough to perturb the microbiome, and even
though it returned to normal after a few weeks, the mice still became
fat.’”

Altering Your Microbiome Is Easy with the Appropriate Dietary Changes

The best way to optimize your gut flora is through your diet. First, you’ll want to make sure to avoid:

• Grains and sugar,
  as it promotes the growth of pathogenic yeast and other fungi. Grains
  containing gluten are particularly damaging to your microflora and
  overall health.^{10, 11} 
• Genetically engineered foods, as they contain some of the highest amounts of glyphosate. This agricultural herbicide has been found to decimate microbes, and tend to preferentially attack beneficial bacteria
• Processed and pasteurized foods, which harm your good bacteria
• Conventionally-raised meats and other animal products; CAFO animals are routinely fed low-dose antibiotics and GE livestock feed
• Chlorinated tap water, as chlorine kills not only pathogenic bacteria in the water but also beneficial bacteria in your gut

A gut-healthy diet is one rich in whole, unprocessed, unsweetened
foods, along with traditionally fermented or cultured foods. Fermented
foods are also a key component of the GAPS
protocol, a diet designed to heal and seal your gut. Your goal should
be to consume one-quarter to one-half cup of fermented veggies with each
meal, but you may need to work up to it. Consider starting with just a
teaspoon or two a few times a day, and increase as tolerated. If that is
too much (perhaps your body is severely compromised), you can even
begin by drinking a teaspoon of the brine from the fermented veggies, which is rich in the same beneficial microbes.

Download Interview Transcript

The video above is an extensive interview with Dr. McBride who is the
Russian neurologist that developed the GAPS diet. You may also want to
consider a high-potency probiotic supplement, but realize that there is
no substitute for the real food. A previous article in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology¹²
makes the case that properly controlled fermentation amplifies the
specific nutrient and phytochemical content of foods, thereby improving
health.

Other Environmental Factors That Affect Your Microbiome

Besides an inappropriate diet, your microbiome is also affected by a
variety of environmental factors and lifestyle choices, for better or
worse. Spending time in the hospital increases your risk of acquiring
something while there. A ten day stay means a 10 % chance of catching
something.

Some of the factors posing the gravest dangers to your microbiome include:

Antibiotics (use only if absolutely necessary, and make sure to reseed your gut with fermented foods and/or a good probiotic supplement)	NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) damage cell membranes and disrupt energy production by mitochondria)	Proton pump inhibitors (drugs that block the production of acid in your stomach, typically prescribed for GERD, such as Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium)
Antibacterial soap	Stress	Pollution

As noted in a recent BBC News report,¹³
lack of exposure to the outdoors can in and of itself cause your
microbiome to become “deficient.” After tracking the whereabouts of two
families for 24 hours, researchers found the family members spent on
average 91 percent of their time indoors. This trend may in fact be one
of the driving factors behind rising allergy statistics in the modern
world—in short; we’re underexposed to beneficial bacteria that human
beings used to get from the earth itself. According to the BBC:




“[A]rguably, the easiest thing for all of us to do to reduce our
chances of becoming allergic is to go outside. Whether it is walking the
dog or strolling to school, the evidence suggests that being outside
and taking a good deep breath of fresh air is good for you. One study
has even found that if you have more plants and flowers around your
house you are not only more likely to have a diverse array of bacteria
on your skin, you are also less likely to be allergic.



Professor Graham Rook, of University College London, calls these
bacteria our ‘old friends,’ and has no doubt of their importance to our
health. He says: ‘In a way, this realization that humans are in fact
ecosystems and that we depend so much on these microorganisms is
probably the most important advance in medicine in the last hundred
years.’"

Deadly gut bacteria could eradicate food allergies, researchers reveal | Daily Mail Online

Deadly gut bacteria could eradicate food allergies, researchers reveal | Daily Mail Online

Bacteria from a family that includes potentially deadly infectious bugs may protect against food allergies, research has shown.

Clostridia encompasses around 100 bacterial species, some of which live harmlessly in the gut.

Others are responsible for gangrene, tetanus, botulism food poisoning and hospital infections caused by Clostridium difficile.

+2

Gut bacteria hold the key to beating food allergies, researchers say

HOW IT WORKS

Environmental
effects on gut flora - including over-use of antibiotics, high fat
diets, excessive hygiene and even infant formula feeding - may be
contributing to food allergies by suppressing Clostridia, the
researchers believe.  

Tests
indicated that Clostridia caused immune cells to produce high levels of
a signalling molecule known to decrease permeability of the intestinal
lining.

This in turn reduced the chances of allergens - molecules that trigger an allergic reaction - leaking into the bloodstream.

The team is now working on turning the discovery into a probiotic food allergy treatment, and has filed a provisional patent. 

The
new study suggests that 'friendly' Clostridia have a unique ability to
block the harmful immune response behind food allergies.

Tests
on 'sterile' mice sensitised to peanuts showed that introducing a
Clostridia cocktail into their bacteria-free guts reversed their
allergy.

Re-introduction of another major group of gut bacteria, Bacteroides, did not have the same effect.

Tests
indicated that Clostridia caused immune cells to produce high levels of
a signalling molecule known to decrease permeability of the intestinal
lining.

This in turn reduced the chances of allergens - molecules that trigger an allergic reaction - leaking into the bloodstream.

US
lead scientist Professor Cathryn Nagler, from the University of
Chicago, said: 'We've identified a bacterial population that protects
against food allergen sensitisation.

'The
first step in getting sensitised to a food allergen is for it to get
into your blood and be presented to your immune system. T

'he presence of these bacteria regulates that process.'

Environmental
effects on gut flora - including over-use of antibiotics, high fat
diets, excessive hygiene and even infant formula feeding - may be
contributing to food allergies by suppressing Clostridia, the
researchers believe.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Previous
• 1
• Next

• 
  
  
  Can't be bothered with the gym? Blame your BRAIN: Scientists...
  
  
  
  Instagram takes on video with Hyperlapse app - and says it...
  
  

Share this article

Share

Their findings appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Mice
used in the study were either raised from birth in sterile conditions
or treated with antibiotics as newborns to wipe out most of their gut
bacteria.

Both
groups were sensitised by exposing them to peanut allergens, triggering
a strong immune response. They produced significantly higher levels of
peanut-targeting antibodies than mice with normal populations of gut
bacteria.

When
Clostridia was present, immune cells generated high levels of the
protective signalling molecule, interleukin 22 (IL-22). But when IL-22
was neutralised, levels of allergen in the animals' bloodstreams
significantly increased.

+2

The team has already been able to reverse peanut allergies in mice

The team is now working on turning the discovery into a probiotic food allergy treatment, and has filed a provisional patent.

'It's
exciting because we know what the bacteria are; we have a way to
intervene,' said Prof Nagler. 'There are of course no guarantees, but
this is absolutely testable as a therapeutic against a disease for which
there's nothing.

'As a mom, I can imagine how frightening it must be to worry every time your child takes a bite of food.'

Between 6% and 8% of children in the UK are believed to have a diagnosed food allergy.

Since 1990, the number of annual UK hospital admissions due to food allergy reactions has soared by 500%.

Severe
food allergy can cause anaphylaxis, an extreme immune reaction that may
prove fatal. Common triggers for anaphylaxis include peanuts, tree nuts
such as almonds, walnuts and cashews, sesame, fish, shellfish, dairy
products and eggs.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2735051/Deadly-gut-bacteria-eradicate-food-allergies-researchers-reveal.html#ixzz42qJLGsYz

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

What binge drinking REALLY does to you: Leaking gut, extreme blood poisoning and not to mention your mental state... - Mirror Online

19 May 2015

A harrowing new documentary using identical twins explores  which is worse, binge drinking or everyday boozing. The answer may surprise you...

 

Drinking a small glass of wine or a couple of beers after work may be fairly common for many of us - but so is a heavy night on a weekend, and identical twin doctors Alexander and Chris van Tullekens have now shown just how dangerous the latter can be in a harrowing new documentary.
Alexander and Chris are both doctors specialising in infectious diseases, and took part in the experiment as part of their new BBC documentary Horizon: Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad?
In it, the pair aim to show the difference between steady constant drinking, and one big binge, as each takes on a separate challenge for one month.
While Chris spreads out his drinks over the week for one month, Alexander drinks them all in one binge session once a week for a month - and he describes his results as "horrific".
BBC/Ross Kirby

The pair both had the same amount in different ways
Doctor Alexander told the Mail Online: "I was essentially paid to get drunk - and it was horrific.
"After just one month I'd caused widespread and serious damage to my entire body, while my blood was being poisoned by bacteria that had leaked from my gut."
He added: "The obvious answer to the question of how bad binge drinking really is, is that it's terrible. I was an A&E doctor for six months and there were nights when I saw nothing but alcohol-induced injuries: car crashes, falls, domestic violence and more."
A binge is defined by the Government as double the safe daily limit of alcohol intake - meaning eight units for men, equivalent to four pints of beer, and six for women, equivalent to just two large glasses of wine.
BBC/Ross Kirby

The pair were shocked by the results
Chris and Alexander identified the significant problem that there's no clear data suggesting whether taking a long break between heaving drinking, in other words a "liver holiday", or just having little and often is better for you - and they have attempted to find an answer.
While Chris drunk three units of alcohol every day for a week - sticking to lower Government guidelines - Alexander would have the exact same amount in one go on a Saturday night.
Alexander told the site of his challenge: "My first binge was 21 shots of vodka in about four hours. The results were first comical and then deeply concerning."
Going through every stage from happy and chatty, to crying and unconscious, he describes what many of us will undoubtedly identify with - while he had a series of blood tests to study the effects it was having on his liver throughout.
BBC/Ross Kirby

Taking part in the experiment was an eye-opener
While Alexander's first Saturday challenge gave him a hangover, he spread his drinks out the week after throughout one day and felt a lot better - while Chris' steady drinking began to make him feel worse.
However Alexander's blood test results showed rather than his liver recovering in his six days off, the effect remained the same - and after four weeks and four binges - he was damaging his body.
"I felt good but my body was still damaged from the binge. Inflammation is linked to a vast array of diseases from cancer and severe infection to heart disease and dementia. This was not a good result," he told Mail Online.
While Chris' results were equally as shocking, there was one main difference - Alexander had three times the amount of bacterial endotoxin in his blood - where his stomach and intestines lining had begun to leak bacteria into his blood.
BBC/Ross Kirby

Chris and Alexander were shocked by the results
The pair also looked at how different ethnicities cope with alcohol intake, and found huge differences - with Eatern ethnicities, particularly people born in China and Japan, having more genes which process alcohol more slowly.
It showed different people handle alcohol differently, and you should drink for your individual body type.
They also found, as a "rule of thumb", if you go red or have faster hangovers, you're more at risk of certain diseases.
While Doctor Alexander continues to drink, he aims to warn people of the effect it can have.

What's really unhealthier - binge drinking or a small daily tipple? | Daily Mail Online

What's really unhealthier - binge drinking or a small daily tipple? | Daily Mail Online

The results of this unique experiment - by identical twin
doctors - will surprise you 

• Chris and Alexander van Tullekens star in a  BBC Horizon show
• Documentary about alcohol will study effects of 21 units of alcohol a week
• Chris drinks them spread out over the week for one month
• Alexander drinks them all in one binge session once a week for a month
• Will these different drinking patterns affect their health?
• Horizon: Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad? is on 9pm, Wednesday, BBC2

By  Dr Alexander van Tulleken For The Daily Mail

View comments

Not long ago, I used to envy people who earn a living reviewing fancy
restaurants or taking all-expenses paid holidays in exotic locations.
Imagine making money doing stuff the rest of us pay for!

But now I've had one of those dream jobs - I was essentially paid to get drunk - and it was horrific.

After just one month I'd caused widespread and serious damage to my entire
body, while my blood was being poisoned by bacteria that had leaked from
my gut. 

And if you think this has nothing to do with your life, I'm afraid you'll have to think again.

Scroll down for video 

Dr Chris van Tulleken (L) and Dr Alexander van Tulleken (R) star in a BBC Horizon programme about alcohol

My assignment had come about as part of a documentary I've made for BBC
Horizon with my identical twin brother - we're both doctors specialising
in infectious diseases. We wanted to look at binge drinking and whether
it really is as bad as we're told.

It's a very important question because it's how a lot of us like to drink.
Many of us can't afford the time or the money to drink every night. And
besides, like many people, if I'm having a drink I like to feel the
effects properly - I admit I like more than one glass.

The obvious answer to the question of how bad binge drinking really is, is
that it's terrible. I was an A&E doctor for six months and there
were nights when I saw nothing but alcohol-induced injuries: car
crashes, falls, domestic violence and more.

But apart from raising your risk of injury, how bad is binge drinking when it comes to your health?

The
UK Government defines a binge as double the maximum 'safe' daily limit
for alcohol intake. For men that means a binge is eight units, or four
pints of lower-strength beer; for women it's six units or two large
glasses of wine.

For
many of us that isn't going to land us in A&E. It also doesn't feel
like a binge at all, more like winding down at the end of a long day.
For some it might seem like a fairly quiet evening!

So
my brother Chris and I undertook an experiment, using ourselves as
guinea pigs to assess just what binge drinking does to the human body.
Among other things, we wanted to find out if a little daily alcohol is
better for you than none at all - and does a gap between binges allow
your liver to recover?

These questions are important because the current data on how alcohol causes harm or benefit is contradictory.

Of
course, there is abundant evidence that alcohol is bad for you, causing
liver disease, brain diseases, heart disease and massive social and
psychological problems.

+4

Dr Alexander van Tulleken, who binge drinks once a week for a month in the show, breathalyses himself

Currently,
the UK government recommends that you take 48 hours off after 'heavy
drinking' and the idea of a 'liver holiday' has some medical evidence to
back it up.

A
study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2006
suggested that drinking on only one to four days per week (and taking a
'liver holiday' for the remaining days) is better than daily drinking
for male heavy drinkers.

But
we don't actually have very good data for any of our alcohol
guidelines. Some studies suggest teetotalers die sooner than alcohol
drinkers, while animal studies show myriad benefits from compounds found
in wine.

 My first binge was 21 shots of vodka in about four hours. The results were first comical and then deeply concerning

We
wanted to try to tidy up the mess. For the experiment, Chris and I
would drink exactly the same amount each week for four weeks, but in
very different ways.

We
would stick to the low end of the government guidelines for men, which
is 21 units per week or three units per day. Chris would drink three
units every day, which counts as moderate drinking, and I would drink
exactly the same amount, but in one go on a Saturday night. (We were
completely alcohol free for four weeks beforehand, so we started in the
same condition.)

I
began the experiment feeling confident: I was the twin who was going to
have a big binge every Saturday night and I was sure I'd got the better
deal. Not least because the liver is an organ that can withstand huge
amounts of abuse, so six days seemed like loads of time to recover
between binges.

My
thinking was I'd have a hangover on Sunday and then I'd be productive
the rest of the week. Chris on the other hand would be getting in from
work, then drinking his single glass of wine or pint and-a-half.

His
liver, brain and heart would never get a break and he'd never have any
fun. I was confident that drinking my way would be no more physically
harmful and much more enjoyable. And the BBC would underwrite my drinks!
What could be better?

My first binge was 21 shots of vodka in about four hours. The results were first comical and then deeply concerning.

Drunkenness
is often said to have a number of stages: verbose, grandiose, amicose
(the 'you're my best friend' stage), bellicose, morose, lachrymose (the
weepy stage), stuperose (the incoherent stage) and comatose. Basically
going from chatty to unconscious via being fun and then weepy.

I
was a textbook example of each stage: shouting, argumentative, talking
gibberish, then trying to get the film crew to come out for dancing and
karaoke.

I
don't recall anything after the first two hours, by which time I'd had
about 16 shots, so I only know about the next two hours (before I passed
out) because Chris filmed them. I had got wildly angry about my shoe
laces and spent the final half hour crying inconsolably before slipping
into unconsciousness.

It
was utterly undignified, the hangover was horrendous and I wasn't sure I
was going to manage three more weeks of this: I never wanted to drink
again.

It
was all made much worse by having needles stuck in me. For as part of
the experiment Chris and I had a range of blood tests devised by one of
the best liver teams in the country.

Hepatologists
Dr Gautham Meta and Professor Rajiv Jelan, at the Royal Free Hospital
in London, used tests that were so advanced they had previously only
been undertaken in animal studies - they measured chemicals in our blood
called interleukins and cytokines, which are extremely sensitive
markers of inflammation and disease.

A
few days after my first binge, I had recovered and was back to my usual
self, confident that this was doing me no real harm. The next Saturday I
did my binge differently - pacing myself with a couple of pints at
lunch, afternoon cocktails, and a bottle of wine with food.

+4

The van Tullekens with 21 units of alcohol in front of them, which they drink weekly for a month

Again,
all 21 units in one day but a drinking pattern that might not seem so
different from what many people get up to over a weekend.

My
video diary at midnight was articulate and sensible - no embarrassing
singing or irrational behaviour. I couldn't have driven a car because I
was well over the limit, but I didn't seem drunk. Next day I felt fine
and the last two binges weren't just easy, they were fun.

Chris,
meanwhile, was actually faring worse. Having a compulsory three units
every day was just enough to make him want more and to disrupt his sleep
if he drank it late after a long day at work. But not enough to have
fun. He looked forward to the end of the experiment.

I was feeling confident about the results, but the findings were shocking in several ways.

My
levels of cytokines and interleukins, those key markers of
inflammation, were raised. I'd expected them to be sky high after the
first binge - but six days later, just before I was about to start the
second binge, they hadn't gone down at all, and at the end of four weeks
they'd soared.

Having a compulsory three units every day was just enough to make Chris want more and to disrupt his sleep

I
felt good but my body was still damaged from the binge. Inflammation is
linked to a vast array of diseases from cancer and severe infection to
heart disease and dementia. This was not a good result.

Perhaps
even more disturbingly Chris had almost the same results: the three
units per day were doing him significant harm, too. So from that it
seemed the amount we were drinking was more important than the way we
drank it.

Wrong!

There
was one huge difference between me and Chris. The blood tests also
revealed I had three times the amount of 'bacterial endotoxin' in my
blood - what this means is that the binge was so irritating to the
lining of my stomach and intestines that they had begun to leak bacteria
into my bloodstream.

I
was being poisoned by my own gut bacteria and it was doing me serious
harm. We don't yet know exactly how much you have to drink to cause this
effect, but it's likely to be much less than I was drinking.

I
had thought that alcohol was safe and probably beneficial in moderate
doses. But what our experiment showed was that government guidelines are
misleading in several ways.

+4

It seemed the amount they were drinking was more important than the way they drank it

First, 48 hours off after a binge isn't nearly enough. We don't know how long you need, but it is likely to be weeks not days.

Second,
there probably isn't a 'safe' lower limit for alcohol. We'll have more
answers soon as the Royal Free is running a larger study looking at what
happens when people who routinely drink within the guidelines stop
drinking for a month. Now, all this would seem to be contradicted by a
steady stream of articles about the health benefits of red wine and
other kinds of alcohol.

And
there is good evidence to suggest that if you're a man between 50 and
60, and at some risk of heart disease, the positive effects of alcohol
on your heart will outweigh the increased risk of cancer and liver
disease.

But
- and this is a depressing but - we're talking about one small glass
per day. More than that and the harm seem to outweigh the benefits.

As
part of our research, Chris and I also looked at the way each person
responds to alcohol - by taking a group of British people with different
ethnic origins - Irish, Chinese and Taiwanese - out for drinks. The
differences were extraordinary.

There
are several genes that control how we break down alcohol and those
genes are strongly associated with ethnicity. They affect our risk of
cancer, liver disease and hangovers.

3 1/2 

The number of teaspoons of sugar in a 250ml can of gin and tonic

Essentially,
the genes that process alcohol more slowly are increasingly common as
you head east from Europe, with the highest in China and Japan.

Genes
from his Irish ancestry helped our volunteer hold his drink better than
the others (although this won't be true for all those with Irish
ancestry, and to complicate the picture, our Irish volunteer was of
mixed Irish/Indian origin).

What this showed us was the idea of universal government guidelines is misleading: you have to drink right for your body type.

As
a rule of thumb: if you go red when you drink, or if your hangovers
start quickly and are severe, you're at higher risk for several
diseases. Your body is telling you to cut down for a reason. After all
this I haven't stopped drinking, but I think more about what I get out
of each drink.

The fact is, drinking is not all bad: it really does help you make friends, and it helps many of us romantically and socially.

These things are important: friends and partners help us live better and longer. But drinking is not good for our health.

All
of us - doctors, patients, publicans, public health officials,
multinational drinks companies - love the idea that alcohol might be
good for us and binge drinking might not be that bad, and want this to
be true. The sobering reality is that it isn't.