Be kind to your gut flora! Don't cleanse!

What?

Rough translation, Veil: Humans have many colonies of many different bacteria living on and in our bodies that have evolved along with us. We need them to digest our food, keep our dead skin from piling up, etc. That's why, if you take antibiotics, a doctor might tell you to eat some yogurt -- to repopulate your gut. That's what the "pro-biotics" industry is all about, repopulating the gut -- except there are healthier ways to do it than just spending money on so-called pro-biotics. Just eat a healthy diet.

Another good read on the topic: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104783/

Note this from the conclusions: "It is fascinating to speculate that the gut microbiome might contain a critical intestinal trigger linking environment and host in obesity. Fecal transplants have revealed promising results in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (88) and could become another interesting option for the therapy of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Indeed, a first small human study on fecal transplantation in patients with metabolic syndrome, though as yet only presented in abstract form, hinted toward improved insulin sensitivity (89). It has to be stated that such an approach might encounter many pitfalls and challenges, such as the complexity of dietary factors, selection and preparation of donors, timing of intervention, current medication, and antibiotic pretreatment. Apart from the likely reservations of patients and physicians, there are still many important questions that must be answered before this can be tested in a broader fashion."

I agree it's a fascinating field but unless you're cleansing with antibiotics, why would a cleanse change your gut ecosystem? I think the bacteria is used to surviving food and liquid, even the dreaded cayenne lemonade. Don't you think?

To a point, yes, but the research is finding that gut flora change quickly, in a matter of a couple days, depending on diet. It is certainly a complex field of study but no science indicates that using a cleanse to attempt to remove "bad flora" or toxins has benefits or even does what it claims to do.

But I guess any repetitive eating could have effects on the gut flora, too.

Yup.

Way ahead of the curve on this. I posted a thread offering to sell my healthy gut flora to dieters on MFP months ago. Didn't get many takers though.....:grumble:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1164468-new-weight-loss-miracle-eat-my-poo?hl=eat+my+poo#posts-18200109

Didn't that post violate the rule against pushing products? :noway: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: