A recent report has confirmed that two people in Louisiana have died of a rare brain infection caused by an amoeba found in tap water used in a neti pot. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, can be found in freshwater, including tap water. The amoeba infection is rare—only 32 infections were reported from 2001 to 2010, but it can be fatal.

The infection typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in lakes and rivers, but the infection can be acquired when contaminated water from other sources enters the nose, as when the head is submerged, or with the use of a neti pot.

Use of the neti pot can be a helpful practice for people experiencing allergies, a cold, or to help stave off sinus infections, but it is very important that filtered or distilled water is used—not tap water. Also, proper cleaning of the neti pot (they can be washed in the dishwasher), and complete drying between each use is crucial.

Not to be an alarmist, as these infections are rare, but I know a lot of people use neti pots, and for good reason, so I want to help spread the word. Be sure you are using them appropriately.

Share this Post...

alelrgies, amoeba, brain infection, cold, contaminated, infection, Naegleria fowleri, neti pot, rare, sinus infections, tap water, water

You’ve probably heard about the deadly listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe grown on a Colorado farm, Jensen Farms. Twenty-one deaths (and counting) have been reported out of 109 people infected with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in over 20 states.

The cantaloupes were voluntarily recalled on September 14, but cantaloupes may still be in refrigerators across the country. Jensen Farms or Rocky Ford-branded cantaloupes should be avoided. Worse, listeria infection can take up to two months to develop in a person who has eaten the cantaloupe, so more illnesses are expected to occur, even after the fruits has been recalled. The CDC and FDA say that cantaloupes from other farms are safe to eat, as this outbreak has been linked to only one farm.

Listeriosis, the disease caused by listeria bacteria, is rare, but is deadly to 30 percent of people infected. Among the elderly, 90 percent are hospitalized after infection. In pregnant women listeria usually causes mild illness, but can result in stillbirths or miscarriages. Previously, listeria outbreaks were mostly associated with deli meats and soft cheeses. Pregnant women are usually cautioned to avoid processed meats and soft cheeses for this reason. Cantaloupe may now be added to that list.

Cantaloupes are known to be more susceptible to bacteria contamination due to their rough skin, a veritable hide-out for bacteria. If listeria is present on the rind, when cut open, the bacteria will contaminate the fruit. It is also more difficult to clean cantaloupe because of the rough surface. It’s probably best to clean the skin, and then also rinse the cut fruit before eating.

For the latest updates, visit the CDC’s listeria webpage.

Share this Post...

bacteria, cantaloupe, contamination, death, farm, Fruit, illness, infected, infection, listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, outbreak, safe

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. Dementia involves memory loss and other impaired intellectual abilities, all of which interfere with everyday life. Though most people with Alzheimer disease are over 65 years, up to five percent have early-onset Alzheimer’s, which usually appears during the mid-40s or 50s.

Beta-amyloid is a peptide found in plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer disease. For a long time, it has been thought that beta amyloid-played a causative role in the neural degeneration of the disease. This may be a mistaken belief, however, as highlighted by a recent Phase III clinical trial on the anti-amyloid drug semagacestat. Patients in this trial were expected to improve on this drug, which interferes with the production of gamma-secretase, the enzyme that produces beta-amyloid. Instead, the drug “did not slow disease progression and was associated with worsening of clinical measures of cognitions and the ability to perform activities of daily living,” according to a press release put out by the drug manufacturer, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. The trial was stopped before completion.

As it turns out, beta-amyloid is an antimicrobial peptide, and is suggested to be secreted by the brain in self-defense against infectious pathogens, as David Perlmutter, M.D. stated at the Institute for Functional Medicine’s 20^th Symposium this past summer. We know beta-amyloid plaque builds up in the brain in people with Alzheimer disease, but what if its presence was a self-defense mechanism rather than the actual root cause of Alzheimer’s?

In a recent study by researchers at Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, we may have our answer. The researchers stated, “Rather than beta-amyloid acting as a sole independent initiator of neuroinflammation, our data raise the possibility that the peptide may be part of a response mounted by the innate immune system. An absence of the peptide may result in increased vulnerability to infection.”¹

Two main pathogens are implicated as possible triggers of Alzheimer disease: Herpes simplex virus 1, the virus known for causing cold sores of the mouth, and found in about 90 percent of all adults; and Chlamydia pneumonia, the respiratory bacteria known to cause pneumonia.

In one study, the presence of anti-HSV IgM antibodies was found to be an even bigger risk factor for the development of Alzheimer disease than even the “Alzheimer’s gene” APOE4 allele.² In describing how Herpes may lead to Alzheimer’s, the researchers state, “Recurrent reactivation of HSV might act as a potent stimulus to the brain microglia, increasing the level of cytokines and initiating a positive feedback cycle that gives rise to an increasing accumulation of pathological changes.”

DNA from HSV1 and from Chlamydia pneumoniae has been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer disease.^3,4 HSV1 was found in specific areas affected by Alzheimer’s, and Chlamydia was actually cultured from brain samples taken from recently-deceased Alzheimer’s patients, indicating the virus was alive in the brain.

Chlamydia pneumonia is also known as the “heart attack” bacteria, found in the intraclavicular space/fluid between gums and teeth. The best prevention for this, incidentally, is the use of Plaquers dental floss; dental floss with a handle. When the bacterium is found, orthodontal work should be performed. People with high levels of hs C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation in the body) are at particular risk for mouth infection with C. pneumoniae bacteria. C. pneumoniae is associated with heart disease because it is also commonly found in the soft plaques of people who die of acute heart attack.

Dr. Perlmutter recommends L-lysine and vitamin D3 supplementation, in addition to a diet high in lysine, which includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, cheese, yoghurt and fish, and is low in tofu and other soy foods high in arginine. It is thought that activation of the virus, as with cold sore outbreaks, is a sign the virus might be active in other areas, like the brain. Preventing this may be helpful for people with Alzheimer’s.

So, why do people get infections in the first place, and why do these infections get activated? Well, lack of vitamin D, which is more common than most people realize, and uncontrolled blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, both triggered by a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, are factors which affect both cellular and adaptive immunity, making us more prone to viral and bacterial infections.

It is important to note that there is much more to this story than infections. Alzheimer disease is a multifactorial “perfect storm” of triggers—usually inflammatory triggers—that interact and overlap, creating the final neurodegeneration of Alzheimer’s. Infectious triggers are just one small piece to this puzzle. For general protection against Alzheimer’s, remove sugar from the diet, reduce saturated fat intake, and incorporate vitamin D, omega-3 fish oil, pre- and probiotics, fiber and digestive enzymes. Be sure to sleep well, eliminate regularly, get plenty of exercise and be happy.

References

1. Soscia SJ, et al., “The Alzheimer’s disease-associated amyloid beta-protein is an antimicrobial peptide.” PLoS One. 2010 Mar 3;5(3):e9505.
2. Letenneur L, et al., “Seropositivity to herpes simplex virus antibodies and risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a population-based cohort study.” PLoS One. 2008;3(11):e3637.
3. Itzhaki RF and Wozniak MA, “Herpes simplex virus type 1 in Alzheimer’s disease: the enemy within.” J Alzheimers Dis. 2008 May;13(4):393-405.
4. Gerard HC, et al., “Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae in the Alzheimer’s brain.” FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2006 Dec;48(3):355-66.

Leonard Smith, M.D.
Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

Share this Post...

Alzheimer disease, antibodies, antimicrobial peptide, APOE4, bacteria, beta-amyloid, beta-amyloid plaque, brain, C-reactive protein, Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytokines, dementia, Digestive Enzymes, disease, exercise, fiber, fish oil, gums, heart attack, Herpes simplex, HSV1, immune system, infection, inflammatory trigger, L-lysine, memory loss, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, omega-3, pathogens, Probiotics, refined carbohydrates, sleep, sugar, Virus, vitamin D3

A particular parasite, called Cryptosporidium, is showing up in pools, lakes and fountains, causing a diarrheal disease known as cryptosporidiosis, or “crypto” for short. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 134 disease outbreaks associated with recreational water in 2007 to 2008, when the most recent data is available. That is a 72 percent increase over the previous two-year period. Of all 105 confirmed disease outbreaks in pools and fountains, Cryptosporidium was responsible for 57 percent of them, causing over 12,000 illnesses.

The parasite can cause diarrhea in all age groups, but immune-compromised individuals, the very young, and very old are particularly susceptible to more serious illness upon infection. Symptoms of crypto include abdominal cramping, frequent watery diarrhea, nausea, feeling ill, and even malnutrition and weight loss in severe cases. In most people, however, a crypto infection is not dangerous, but it’s uncomfortable.

Cryptosporidiosis spreads by contact with contaminated water, and as the bacterium is tolerant of chlorine, it may not be possible to avoid contact. While it is not common for a pool to be contaminated with this parasite, Cryptosporidium contamination is increasing. Proper sanitation and hygiene are important for prevention of this illness. People, and especially infants, with diarrhea should not swim in pools until their diarrhea subsides. Infants should wear protective diapers when swimming. Try not to swallow water and be sure to wash hands after swimming to stay on the safe side.

Share this Post...

crypto, cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Diarrhea, fecal, fountains, illness, infants, infection, lakes, outbreaks, parasite, pools, prevention

Vegetarians are 30 percent less likely to develop the bowel disorder diverticular disease than meat eaters, according to a recent study published by the British Medical Journal. Diverticular disease involves the development of pouches in the wall of the large intestine. Diverticulitis describes the inflammation of these pouches, which can be a painful condition, and may lead to further complications like peritonitis, an infection of the abdominal cavity following the rupture of diverticular pouches.

A low-fiber diet is known to contribute to the development of diverticular disease, and thus, a vegetarian diet has been suggested as beneficial. This new study, based on 47,033 participants, provides strong evidence to support a vegetarian diet. Over 15,000 participants in the study reported consuming a vegetarian diet. After 11.6 years follow up, and adjusting for other contributing factors like smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index, vegetarians fared better than meat eaters in terms of risk of diverticular disease.

In addition, those participants with the highest dietary fiber intake—over 25 grams per day—had the lowest risk of being admitted to the hospital with, or dying from, diverticular disease compared with those only consuming 14 or less grams per day. The researchers suggest, “the opportunity for preventing the occurrence of diverticular disease and other conditions, such as colorectal cancer, probably lies in the modification of the diet.”

They also stated, to my dismay, that far more evidence is needed before dietary recommendations can be made to the general public. Sure, they do need to replicate this study and continue to learn about what specific dietary factors can have the greatest impact before recommending vegetarian diets to all, but they could certainly recommend increasing fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while decreasing unhealthy meats, in the meantime. I certainly do.

Share this Post...

bowel disorder, Dietary Fiber, diverticular disease, diverticulitis, fruits and vegetables, infection, inflammation, large intestine, low-fiber diet, unhealthy meats, vegetarian diet, vegetarians, whole grains

I recommend eating natural foods all the time because I know foods that don’t contain toxic ingredients are better for our bodies. If you eat meat, choose natural meats from animals that haven’t been treated with growth hormones and antibiotics.

Now there are even more good reasons to go all-natural. A recent study found certain strains of E. coli bacteria that were causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women were the same strains found on antibiotic-treated chicken at the local grocery store.

Yeah. Gross.

Are you wondering, “how the heck?” Well, antibiotic-treated chicken may actually harbor bacteria that are more resistant because some bacteria can survive antibiotic treatment. These resistant bacteria live on the raw chicken and can be consumed if cross-contamination prevention is not practiced while preparing and cooking food. The bacteria can pass through the digestive tract without causing an infection in the gut, but these same bacteria can migrate to the urethra where they are not as easily tolerated, triggering a UTI.   

What to do? Here are some tips:

• Buy chicken raised without antibiotics.  If you can get organic, that’s even better.
• Prevent cross contamination by cooking chicken thoroughly, washing your hands before and after handling chicken.  Thoroughly clean all utensils, cutting board and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing food (of any kind for safe measure).
• Do not use the same cutting board or utensils for raw vegetables that you used for the raw chicken
• To avoid UTIs, wipe from front to back, urinate after intercourse, and keep your gut balanced with a healthy amount of beneficial bacteria

Share this Post...

antibiotics, bacteria, bodies, chicken, cross contamination, digestive tract, E. coli, eating, food, foods, growth hormones, infection, ingredients, meat, natural, organic, raw, resistant, toxic, treatment, urinary tract infections, UTIs, women

Unnecessary antibiotic use is a common practice, especially in pediatric medicine. Children with ear infections are often prescribed antibiotics, which often aren’t necessary. A recent analysis of 135 published studies found that most kids who see a doctor for ear infection do not need an antibiotic.

The review, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) determined that 80 percent of children with ear infections will get better on their own in about three days. When antibiotics are prescribed, this number only increases to 92 percent, but comes with many side effects—three in ten will develop a rash in reaction to the medication, five in ten more will get diarrhea, and an unpredictable number will be at risk of developing antibiotic resistance. 

Experts encourage doctors to give parents a “safety-net antibiotic prescription,” which is a prescription that parents take home and only use if the child does not improve after three days. This reduces the amount of office visits necessary (which can be one reason for parents to push early prescriptions), and reduces the number of children who take antibiotics unnecessarily.

I see so many people with digestive issues that stem from repeated antibiotic use as a child, and  I know how destructive that can be first hand. The long-term consequences of unnecessary antibiotics can wreak havoc on a person’s digestive system.  They did mine, and it took a long time (and the right supplements) for me to get back to vibrant health.  The more we know about safe ways to avoid antibiotics, the better. 

So the next time one of your little ones has an ear infection, talk to your doctor about a three-day safety-net antibiotic prescription. In the meantime, a bedtime dose of ibuprofen was recommended for best relief.

As always, when taking antibiotics, a probiotic should be taken (not within the same 2 hours) during and after, to help replenish the healthy gut bacteria that are depleted with antibiotic use.

Share this Post...

antibiotic, antibiotic resistance, bacteria, Children, Conditions, consequences, Diarrhea, digestive, doctor, ear infection, gut, healthy, infection, long-term, medication, prescribed, Probiotic, rash, reaction, replenish, safe, side effects, studies, system

A recent Cochrane Systematic Review, which involves an extensive review of the scientific literature, found that probiotics are effective at reducing diarrhea. The results were similar across all 63 different trials that were analyzed.

A separate review was done for trials involving children with persistent diarrhea. Though only four trials were available for review, results showed that probiotics can reduce the length of time of an episode of persistent diarrhea.

Diarrhea often occurs as a result of infection by many different organisms. This results in a big imbalance in the ratio of good to bad bacteria, so probiotics, (also known as good bacteria), are sometimes recommended as a way to repopulate the gut and bring balance back to the intestines. Indeed, if the Cochrane Review is confirming this, you can’t get more mainstream than that. 

More research needs to be done on specific strains of bacteria and on preventing the progression from short-term to persistent diarrhea. But probiotic therapy can be used safely in addition to rehydration fluids, which are also given during diarrhea treatment.

Diarrhea can be a serious condition. If you are experiencing an episode of diarrhea, talk with your doctor about taking probiotics to help rebalance your gut.

Share this Post...

bacteria, bad, balance, Children, Cochrane, condition, Diarrhea, fluids, good, gut, imbalance, infection, intestines, organisms, Probiotics, rebalance, repopulate, research, scientific, strains

Weekly challenge (I mean, opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us!

An interesting study published last year found that optimism boosts the immune response. That’s right—filling your half empty cup to half full can improve your immune system’s response to infection.  Who knew it could be that easy?

Study participants were law students. They were found to have increased immune response when their outlook about law school was more positive, and decreased response when they were feeling more pessimistic about it. Though the students’ general outlook on life (optimistic or pessimistic) did not have an effect on results, having an optimistic or pessimistic disposition with regard to specific, important events was associated with immune function.

This doesn’t mean that you need to go about your day being cheerful and optimistic about every little thing. There is a need to be realistic at times. But if you find yourself getting caught up in something that might not be as bad as it seems, try to cultivate a little optimism—for your immune system! It may even lead to a solution that you hadn’t considered.

Share this Post...

Boost, function, immune, immune system, infection, optimism, optimistic, pessimistic, solution, study

There is still a general belief with medical doctors and the public as well that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are mostly stress-related psychological disorders. I have personally had many patients who were reluctant to discuss their bowel problems for fear of being labeled a “psych” case. Many practitioners still aren’t aware there can be legitimate causes of disease that come from both mind and body.

With IBS and IBD, as with most discussions, there is often an element of truth on both sides or there would be no controversy. First, let’s look at the validity of the stress factors. People with genetic short serotonin transporter systems react negatively to stress-related increases in cortisol (a stress hormone) than people with normal serotonin transport systems.1 Second, ALL people react to significant stress, which can produce damage to the gut epithelial lining. However, people with a history of IBD generally show more gut lining damage than those without IBD. The damage includes: increased levels of stress hormones, activation and degranulation of mast cells, mitochondrial damage in epithelial cells, and mucosal protein oxidation which can create multiple problems with permeability (leaky gut) and immunity.2 Again, this happens to everyone under stress, but is worse with IBS and IBD because stress can trigger a relapse of either condition.

On the other hand, there are many reports that suggest anywhere from 20 to 60 percent of IBS and IBD patients have had a serious gastrointestinal infection days or weeks before they began having symptoms of chronic bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation (or both diarrhea and constipation) that may have lasted years. A study was done on 111 patients with IBS using the lactulose breath test (measures hydrogen and methane gas produced by too many of the wrong bacteria) and 84 percent of patients were positive, which indicates small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Those who were treated with a non-absorbable antibiotic, Neomycin, had a statistically significant improvement both in symptoms, and normalization of the breath test.3 A more recent study4 showed that patients with IBS, but without constipation, treated with rifaximin (a broad spectrum non-absorbable antibiotic) for two weeks provided significant relief of IBS symptoms including: bloating, abdominal pain, and loose or watery stools.

Both of these studies strongly suggest that bacterial overgrowth, which creates a low-grade infection, is a major part of IBS, and can be treated with antibiotics. In addition, I think the standard of care today strongly suggests using probiotics while on antibiotics. This has been shown to lower the incidence of antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD), and especially Clostridium difficle diarrhea, which can lead to total removal of the colon or even death.

Probiotics alone have been shown to significantly help with IBS. More specifically, probiotics enhance gut barrier function, inhibit pathogen binding and modulate gut inflammatory response. They reduce visceral hypersensitivity associated with both inflammation and psychological stress. More importantly, probiotics can alter colonic fermentation and stabilize the colonic microbiota, show that dietary exposure to pathogens maybe less likely to create another relapse of symptoms.5

Once again we can see that the use of high fiber, essential oils (omegas), probiotics and digestive enzymes (Brenda Watson’s HOPE Formula) can be beneficial in preventing or treating intestinal inflammation—be it IBS or IBD.

1. Way BM. “The Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism Is Associated with Cortisol Response to Psychosocial Stress.” Biol Psychiat. 2010 Mar 1;67(5):487-92.
2. Farhadi A, et al. “Heightened Responses to Stressors in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Am J Gastro. 2005;100:1796–1804.
3. Pimentel M., et al. “Normalization of Lactulose Breath Testing Correlates With Symptom Improvement in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.” Am J Gastro. 2003;98:412-19.
4. Pimentel M., et al. “Rifaximin Therapy for Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome without Constipation.” N Engl J Med. 2011 Jan;364:22-32.
5. Spiller, R. “Review article: probiotics and prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome.” Aliment Pharmacog Ther. 2008 Jun;28(4):385-96.

Leonard Smith, M.D.
Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

Share this Post...

abdominal pain, antibiotic, antibiotic associated diarrhea, bloating, body, bowel, Clostridium difficile, colon, Constipation, cortisol, Diarrhea, dietary, Digestive Enzymes, fiber, gastrointestinal, gut epithelial lining, gut lining, IBD, IBS, immunity, infection, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, lactulose breath test, microbiota, mind, Omegas, oxidation, pathogen, Probiotics, psychological, Serotonin, SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, stress