A recent study, published in the journal Nutrition, demonstrated the effect of broccoli and blueberries on bowel inflammation in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).¹ Researchers fed IBD mice either a control diet, or a diet with 10 percent broccoli or ten percent blueberries. Both the broccoli- and blueberry-fed mice exhibited similar changes in gut microbiota with one exception: the broccoli-fed mice had lower levels of the bacteria Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Both diets also increased the size of colon crypt cells and number of goblet cells per crypt. (Intestinal crypt cells are located in the “valleys” of the intestinal villi.)

Differences between the broccoli- and blueberry-fed mice were also observed. Higher concentrations of butyric acid and lower concentrations of succinic acid were found in the broccoli-fed mice; the only diet to reduce inflammation in the colon was the broccoli-fed diet; and broccoli-fed mice exhibited less translocation of microbes to mesenteric lymph nodes than the blueberry-fed or control mice. (This means in the broccoli-fed mice gut bacteria stayed in the gut rather than translocating through a leaky gut into gut-associated lymph nodes.)

One reason the blueberry-fed mice may not have had as beneficial an impact as the broccoli-fed mice could be the high fructose content of blueberries. Foods high in fructose can produce fermentation in the gut.² Inflammatory bowel disease involves a gut sensitivity to the microbes residing there. Increased fermentation may further disrupt an already sensitive environment.

Blueberries have been found to benefit microbial metabolism in the colon, likely due to the anti-inflammatory effects of blueberry’s phenolic compounds.³ Broccoli is also well known for its protective effects in the large bowel, mostly attributed to the sulforophane and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) bioactives.⁴

This study is helping to prove that whole foods absolutely affect the microbial population. The moral of the story? Well, more studies need to be done to confirm the effects in humans, and to elucidate the mechanisms at work, but in the meantime, eat more broccoli! In fact, eat more vegetables (and fruits if you aren’t sensitive) in general. The thousands of phytochemicals found in vegetables and fruits have more beneficial effects in our guts—and our entire bodies—than we will ever know.

References

1. G. Paturi, et al., “Influence of dietary blueberry and broccoli on cecal microbiota activity and colon morphology in mdr1a(-/-) mice, a model of inflammatory bowel diseases.” Nutrition. 2011 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
2. P.R. Gibson, et al., “Review article: fructose malabsorption and the bigger picture.” Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Feb 15;25(4):349-63.
3. W.R. Russell, et al., “Availability of blueberry phenolics for microbial metabolism in the colon and the potential inflammatory implications.” Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jun;51(6):726-31.
4. E.H. Jeffrey and M. Araya, “Physiological effects of broccoli consumption.” Phytochem Rev. 2009;8:283-9.

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.

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 Constipation is a common childhood condition, unfortunately. Even worse is the mainstream definition of constipation—less than three bowel movements per week. Say what! If you or little Johnny are only pooping three times a week, we’ve got a problem. Regular elimination helps remove toxins from the system. And the longer feces sit in the colon the more toxic it gets!

A recent study evaluated the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in children with constipation. Twenty children between the ages of 3 and 16 took the probiotic daily for a 4-week period. Bowel movement frequency and stool consistency improved significantly in these children. That means their constipation improved. The results of this pilot trial are promising, and will lead to a larger randomized controlled trial.  

Bifidobacteria are the most prevalent probiotic bacteria in the large intestine, or colon, of children. Normal bifidobacteria colonization occurs when babies are born vaginally, and is improved during breastfeeding. Antibiotic treatment can interfere with colonization, especially during the first months and years of life. Maintaining a healthy balance of bifidobacteria is associated with intestinal health, which is the foundation of total body health.

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Here’s your new 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. 

As most of you who read my blog know, diet has a huge influence on our health. I always recommend a high fiber diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and lean proteins. The more plant-based the better. 

A new systematic review of diet risk factors for the development of IBD—inflammatory bowel disease, of which Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common—has similar recommendations. The review looked at 19 different diet studies in IBD patients involving 6,609 people. The results of this huge review found that high intakes of total fat, polyunsaturated fat, omega-6 fatty acids and meat were all associated with an increased risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

When looking at protective diet factors, high fiber and fruit intakes were associated with decreased risk of developing Crohn’s disease and high vegetable intake was associated with decreased risk of ulcerative colitis.

Now, let’s look at the big picture here, because many people get caught up in the details and take each study word for word—and with all the new studies coming out, that could make you crazy. What is this review saying? It’s saying that eating a healthy diet—high fiber, high fruit and vegetable, low in inflammatory omega-6 fats, not too much fat, low meat—can help protect against inflammatory bowel disease.

This same diet is protective of many chronic diseases, in one way or another. One reason it is so great for the intestinal tract is that it is an anti-inflammatory diet. It helps to quell gut inflammation, which is at the core of intestinal disease, as well as much of the body’s illness.

So, this week, if you know someone dealing with intestinal issues, pass this along to them. Or take them to lunch at that new healthy restaurant down the street and order a nice big salad. You’ll both benefit from it. Make this a lifestyle, people. It’s worth it!

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADD as it used to be called, affects 5% of children worldwide. A recent study published in the journal Lancet evaluated the effects of a restrictive elimination diet on ADHD symptoms in children aged 4–8. The diet consisted of rice, meat, vegetables, pears and water for five weeks. Symptoms improved in 78% of the children. If that’s not a gut connection, I don’t know what is!

Certain foods and food additives have been suspected to play a role in the development of ADHD for quite some time now, but it’s a controversial topic. I love that this study was published in such a prominent journal. Though more studies need to be done to determine just what foods should be avoided, and how long a restricted diet can be followed safely, researchers are on the right track. The gut-brain connection is an interesting one, and this study shows us why.

Can it really be that foods we eat affect our behavior? YES!!! Our intestinal tracts are one of our main connections to the outside world. What we put into our bellies will affect the rest of our bodies, especially our brains. 

Remember though, if you suspect food sensitivities may be affecting your child, be sure to work with a holistic-minded doctor. It is essential that children receive enough nutrients from their diets. Even the diet used in this study is only recommended for five weeks. Work with a doctor to find the best options for your child.

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Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease involving a reaction in the gut to gliadin, the gluten protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This gut reaction destroys the body’s own intestinal lining cells, a process known as autoimmunity. The treatment of celiac disease is complete avoidance of gluten and gluten-containing foods. If not treated properly, the autoimmunity can manifest in other areas of the body, like the joints or the thyroid gland.

A recent study set out to determine at what age people develop celiac disease. Every 15 years since 1974 the number of people with celiac disease has doubled. As it turns out, the incidence of celiac disease in the elderly is almost two and a half times higher than the general population. This counters the previous perception that celiac disease usually develops during childhood.

So what factors may be leading to this late-life loss of tolerance to gluten?

Studies will need to be done to determine the exact environmental triggers, but I suspect that these people may have been living for years with either silent celiac disease (yes, celiac can exist in the gut with no symptoms at all) or the milder form of gluten sensitivity.

So many people improve their health status when they eliminate gluten. Why wait until you’re elderly to find out what it might do? Try a gluten-free diet if you think that you might be sensitive.

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Here’s something I thought you might find interesting: researchers at Harvard University Medical School recently discovered that bacteria in the gut can trigger the autoimmune response associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

In simple terms, an autoimmune response means that there’s an immune response in the body that goes astray, causing the body to attack its own tissues instead of a foreign invader, in this case causing the breakdown in healthy joint cartilage seen in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

So what does all this mean when it comes to the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive tract every day? It means that they can affect your whole body, sometimes even causing conditions nowhere near the gut, and it’s something I’ve been saying for years! Not only that, but more and more studies these days are proving me right, showing that many autoimmune conditions begin right in the gut.

This isn’t surprising, since more than 70% of your body’s immune defenses are found in the gut—and when things like digestive problems, gut bacteria imbalance and toxin overload put a strain on the immune system, it often leads to the development of autoimmune conditions. 

The folks at Harvard are planning to look at the effects of intestinal bacteria on other autoimmune conditions as well, including type 1 diabetes, so stay tuned! And remember to take good care of your gut!

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It really wouldn’t be my blog with a good fungus or poop reference every now and then, so here’s the latest news from around the country about a couple of the things we try not to think about all that often…but that can have a pretty big impact on our health.

In the northwest United States an airborne fungus called Cryptococcus gattii has been spreading, and so far it’s caused several deaths in healthy individuals. Normally this fungus affects HIV-infected patients whose immune systems are compromised, but this new C. gattii strain is causing illness and even death in people who aren’t even sick to begin with…scary stuff!

The strain is affecting humans as well as animals—with a death rate of 25% compared to the typical 8.7% seen in previous strains—and scientists are working hard to determine just where this virulent strain originated by studying gene samples collected from infected patients.

In another news story, Chagas disease is making headlines. Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which lives in the gut of the reduviid bug. Yuck, right? Even worse, the reduviid bug is also called the “kissing bug” because it crawls on the lips of people who are sleeping, attracted by exhaled carbon dioxide. And what does it do when it’s there? It numbs and bites your skin, drinking its fill of blood and then defecating on the wound, which in turn transmits the parasite to you, the human host. Double yuck!!

While Chagas is seen mostly in poorly developed areas of the world like South and Central America, its prevalence is increasing in the U.S.—alarming news, if you ask me. And while the acute form of Chagas can be treated effectively by doctors, once it develops into a chronic condition there is no cure, and complications can include heart disease and intestinal malformation…Yikes!

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Recently I was given the chance to be a part of something really amazing. A friend of mine went to Haiti on a mission organized in conjunction with All Children’s Hospital in Tampa. Their goal was to set up a medical clinic and provide much-needed care for those in need, and ReNew Life had the opportunity to donate several cases of Ultimate Flora probiotics to more than a hundred kids living at Danita’s Children Hope for Haiti Children’s Center. 

Danita’s Children was founded in 1999 by the remarkable Danita Estrella to provide a place where all children could be loved, cared for, and receive the spiritual, emotional and academic guidance they need to help them grow into strong and healthy adults. It’s not just an orphanage—but a school, a church, and in my opinion a living, breathing community of hope that shows the world what it means to truly make a difference. So thank you to Susan and all those who were involved for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to spread ReNew Life’s message of healthier living for all.

Visit Danita’s Children online today to learn more or to find out how you can help make a difference!

 Curious about Probiotics? Research shows that vibrant health begins in the gut with the right balance of intestinal bacteria, but where and how you live can have a significant impact on that healthy balance—resulting in poor digestive function and a breakdown in overall health. Daily probiotics can help replenish good bacteria in the digestive tract and restore needed balance to the body.

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We all know how uncomfortable constipation can be, so imagine what it must feel like for little kids…ugh! That’s why a recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology caught my eye.

The study suggests that a combination of two things may be involved in higher incidences of constipation in children: 1. introducing gluten in the first year of life, and 2. an allergy to cow’s milk.

This is not surprising when you consider that the digestive tracts of infants are still very sensitive, especially in the first months of life. Not only that, but their immune systems are weaker, which means they are more susceptible to pretty much everything.

So the bottom line? When it comes to little tummies, it’s better to wait on the gluten and cow’s milk until they are more ready to handle it. And yes, some children may eat it and be fine (or appear fine), but I say better safe than sorry! There are plenty of substitutes for gluten and cow’s milk these days, even for infants.

All this is important because childhood constipation has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults, so if your child has chronic constipation, be sure to take a look at his or her diet. Other dietary factors to think about are fiber intake (since fiber helps promote regular bowel movements) and intestinal balance. In babies who are not breast fed, who were delivered by cesarean section, or who have been treated with antibiotics, there is a greater risk for an altered intestinal flora balance, so a daily probiotic supplement may be helpful in these situations.

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I love blueberries. Not only are they sweet and delicious, but they’re SO good for you! So of course I wasn’t surprised when I read about a recent study that found yet another reason to stock up on these potent little superfruits.

Scientists in Sweden recently looked at the effects of different types of fiber on people with intestinal inflammation, and interestingly enough one of the fibers they studied was blueberry fiber. What’d they find?

Blueberry fiber actually performed better than other fiber sources—including both rye bran and oat bran—especially when all three were tested in combination with probiotics. When blueberries and probiotics were combined, the number of inflammation-inducing bacteria in the intestines decreased, and the number of good bacteria (like Lactobacilli) actually increased. Wow!

So how does it work? Blueberries have a high polyphenol content, and those polyphenols (natural plant compounds) have powerful antibiotic and anti-oxidative properties which could explain the decrease in bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. Pretty cool, right?

I even recommend blueberries for folks on a yeast/candida diet, since they have a lower sugar content than most other fruits (and we all know that sugar feeds harmful yeast organisms in the gut). Plus they taste great with just about everything—so be sure to eat your blueberries!

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