Diet, Nutrition and SupplementationPost here for supplement reviews or nutritional advice. If you're trying to get "ripped abz" THIS is where you should be.
Of course, "energy" is another way of saying "calories." Jeffrey Gordon of the University of Washington raised a colony of mice in sterile conditions, with no gut microbes at all, and although they ate 30 percent more food than normal mice they had less than half the body fat. When they were later inoculated with normal bacteria, they quickly gained back up to normal weight. "We are finding that the nutritional value of food is pretty individualized," Gordon says. "And a big part of what determines it is our microbial composition."
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
Of course, "energy" is another way of saying "calories." Jeffrey Gordon of the University of Washington raised a colony of mice in sterile conditions, with no gut microbes at all, and although they ate 30 percent more food than normal mice they had less than half the body fat. When they were later inoculated with normal bacteria, they quickly gained back up to normal weight. "We are finding that the nutritional value of food is pretty individualized," Gordon says. "And a big part of what determines it is our microbial composition."
That article is sitting in our mail pile.
That's interesting, Pete. All other things aside (metabolism, body composition, et al), people may potentially respond to the same food intake differently.
That was a good article. This has been well known by some for a very long time even though modern medicine has been very slow to catch on.
The article is basically saying that we live and function using symbiotic relationships with microorganisms(bacteria, fungus, etc). They are essential to our life. They are part of our immune system, digestive system, etc.
On the other hand, you have microorganism that can become problematic and harmful when present in large amount(E. Coli, Candida, etc). These are still natural microorganism that exist in many of our bodies but they are usually kept under control by our immune system and digestive system with the help of all of the beneficial microorganisms.
The problem occurs when you get a harmful infection. You are prescribed antibiotics which indeed kills off the harmful infection but it also kills off the beneficial microorganisms. It then takes our body quite some time to replenish the beneficial bacterial which can mess up and weaken your immune/digestive system during the process.
This is why you hear people promote foods with live bacterial cultures, such as yogurt. If you keep the beneficial bacteria strong, then you are less susceptible to the harmful bacterial. Unfortunately, our society no longer readily consumes foods that promote beneficial bacteria and flora. This is one reason you see more and more cases of harmful digestive infections.
The article also talks about how our use/overuse of antibiotics is effectively creating antibiotic resistant harmful bacteria such as MRSA. This is how superbugs are born. Yes, antibiotics have their place but many would say that they are widely overused in our society. People are no longer relying on their body's natural defensives and are essentially damaging the body's natural defenses with antibiotics.
The article also talks about how our society is also killing off our body's natural defenses with all of the anti-bacterial/anti-microbial products that are being pushed. When people use hand sanitizers, it kills the bad microorganisms as well as the good ones. So the more germaphobic our society becomes, the weaker our immune systems become.
Most people don't know but 90% of your immune system is within your digestive tract.
It may also be important to note that not all probiotics(beneficial bacteria or products that contain beneficial bacteria) are equal. There are many companies jumping on the band wagon with this thing and putting crap on the market just to make money. I highly suggest that you research probiotics and make sure you are getting what you are paying for.
Of course, "energy" is another way of saying "calories." Jeffrey Gordon of the University of Washington raised a colony of mice in sterile conditions, with no gut microbes at all, and although they ate 30 percent more food than normal mice they had less than half the body fat. When they were later inoculated with normal bacteria, they quickly gained back up to normal weight. "We are finding that the nutritional value of food is pretty individualized," Gordon says. "And a big part of what determines it is our microbial composition."
I think I see where you were going with this part.
You need these beneficial microorganisms in your digestive tract in order to help you digest your food. Only so much digestion happens in your stomach. Much of digestion occurs in your intestines. These microorganisms break food particles down further so that your body can then absorb the nutrients. Without the microorganisms, much fewer nutrients ever get absorbed and you end up passing much of your food out the other end, not fully digested.
So, you take the microorganisms from the rats and they can't digest their food and get all of the nutrients and energy from it. They end up under weight and sick. You give the rats the microorganisms and now they can digestive their food and get the nutrients and energy they need to be healthy.
Exactly. So, in case you were thinking that it was a good thing to have a 'sterile gut' as it makes you leaner.. think again. This is why people with severe celiacs , Crohn disease or any other gut disease often end up being underweight.
Smaller gut problems OTOH can lead to overcompensation and obesity!
As for beneficial bacteria: Jarrodophilus is a very good brand.
Don't forget prebiotics either.. like kefir. Still need my 'butt' in gear and order some, so I can grow it myself. Water-based kefir that is...
The article also talks about how our society is also killing off our body's natural defenses with all of the anti-bacterial/anti-microbial products that are being pushed. When people use hand sanitizers, it kills the bad microorganisms as well as the good ones. So the more germaphobic our society becomes, the weaker our immune systems become.
Ya know, everyone at my jobsite wipes down their workstation with clorox disinfecting towels before sitting down.
I don't bother and I get sick very seldom. The last big illness I remember was sometime in 95 or so...I can't really remember it's been so long.
interesting read on bacteria/microbes and nutrition
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