Tag Archives: bacteria

Avoid Raw Milk

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Raw milk, milk that hasn’t gone through the bacteria killing process of pasteurization, has gained popularity recently. People believe that it is healthier. But as a dietitian, I have always been scared of raw milk. Yes, scared. The bacteria it contains can cause an array of problems. Problems such as diarrhea, serious infection leading to hospitalization, miscarriages and even death. Just as with any bacteria or food-bourne pathogen, people with compromised immune systems are at greater risk. This includes children, older folks, and people with weak immune systems (as in those of us with auto-immune and/or gut problems).

Every day I get nutrition related news from around the world. Today I saw two articles about children that have died due to drinking raw milk.

From the CDC:

“A study published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal shows that the average annual number of outbreaks due to drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk more than quadrupled since the last similar study – from an average of three outbreaks per year during 1993-2006 to 13 per year during 2007-2012. Overall, there were 81 outbreaks in 26 states from 2007 to 2012. The outbreaks, which accounted for about 5 percent of all foodborne outbreaks with a known food source, sickened nearly 1,000 people and sent 73 to the hospital. More than 80 percent of the outbreaks occurred in states where selling raw milk was legal.”

For a more comprehensive review of the pros and cons of raw milk, check out the CDC’s page.

Why your gut bacteria are so important

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I post a lot about your gut flora (the bacteria living in your gut). Research comes out everyday, showing us how these guys are way more important than anyone ever thought. After all, all disease starts in your gut. But let’s back up a minute. I will be doing a series of digestive posts, and need to lay the groundwork.

There are 100 trillion bacteria living in your digestive track. That’s 10 times more bacteria than human cells in your body. Most of these bacteria live in your colon. But some are in your small intestine. These make up your gut flora. (And these plus any microbes on your skin make up your microbiome)

The flora is made up of at least 800 species and 7000 different strains of bacteria. Some of these bacteria are good and some are bad. The amount, diversity, and ratio of good to bad are different for every person. Ideally you have more good than bad bacteria and they mostly reside in your colon.

The ones that are good are vital to your health. Perhaps the most important influence on your health.

Why are they so important?

  • they convert food into substances that nourish the lining of your digestive track
  • they protect the integrity of the GI lining-so that the good gets into your body and the bad stays out.
  • they create some vitamins and minerals
  • they help absorb some nutrients
  • they are your first line of immunity defense
  • they prevent gastrointestinal infections
  • reduce inflammation
  • prevent food allergies
  • regulate body weight
  • and all hell breaks loose when the diversity, number and ratio get altered for the worse

photo: freedigitalphotos.net

Bacteria that protects against food allergies

More and more we are learning about our gut flora (those bacteria that inhabit our digestive tract) and how they help us out. They are part of our immune system, they help (or hinder) our digestion, and more and more research is pointing to these bacteria having a role in our food cravings, weight troubles, and even autoimmune diseases. If we can continue to learn about this perhaps we can prevent some of these health issues by discovering which bacteria are responsible for which action and then take the right probiotic as a supplement.

Today a research study found isolated the type of bacteria that can protect against food allergies. Clostridia is the bacteria. Read the whole article here.