Our Germs, Ourselves
Forbes reports that our bodies have 100 trillion bacteria in the intestinal tract. Recent studies imply that the type of bacteria in the gut may decide whether food is burned as energy or stored as fat. Obese people had a different mix of microbes compared to thin people, and when the bacteria from obese people were given to thin people, they got fat. When people are given antibiotics, these ‘good’ bacteria are killed, or the mix is changed, resulting in a multitude of diseases.
My comments: Add another possible cause to obesity–inadequate numbers or a bad mix of microbes in the intestinal tract. The field of weight gain and weight loss has only partially been enumerated—this may be another factor to add to the big ‘metabolic’ disorder category of why some people have such a hard time losing weight. The importance of the gut bacteria is not given adequate emphasis in medicine. We need to be sure to take probiotics during and especially after any antibiotic use. Almost all gastrointestinal complaints are improved with the ingestion of billions of probiotics each day.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
7 responses so far ↓
1 Sandra Hachtel // Jun 1, 2009 at 7:54 am
I agree. Our digestive system can be compared to a rural septic system. If it’s not regularly innoculated with waste eating/dissolving bacteria, it backs up and doesn’t function well. Waste builds up & needs to be pumped out sooner than otherwise neccesary.
2 Harmony // Jun 14, 2009 at 12:18 am
Hi - GREAT website… Thank you! And thank you for asking what we want to know about! (: I’ve studied alot about CoQ10, but remain fuzzy about the details (maybe because I can’t afford enough CoQ10 and Carnitine since I lost my business!). There is so much hype about “this” manufacturing technique, and “that” form, and “the other” style of pill… can you straighten out this mess for us? Could you kindly comment on: 1) the two kinds of CoQ10 - ubiquinine and ubiquinol (hope I spelled them right); 2) which one our body can use; 3) how in the heck to remember the right one (!); 4) how it works with Carnitine; 5) how “ubiquitous” it is in our systems; and 6) the biochemistry cause of our aging systems not making enough of it. If it’s in every cell (doing WHAT?), it’s hard to understand how we could be lacking. However, I know for sure that when I take Carnitine ALONE, my energy level is WAY less than when I take Carnitine AND CoQ10. Thanks again!
3 Dr. Stan Gardner // Jun 28, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Harmony, CoQ10 and Carnitine are 2 substances that impact our ability to make energy in our body. Carnitine is the carrier protein that takes triglycerides into the mitochondria where is can be converted into energy (ATP). CoQ10 is the fifth of a 9 step process called the electron transport chain where the majority of the energy of the body is used. As the CoQ10 levels diminish, energy production is hampered. These levels can be most impacted by the use of statins which block CoQ10 production, which is why almost everyone on statins for cholesterol control are tired after a few months on the medication. When purchasing CoQ10, you need to be sure it is CoQ10 and not CoQ8 and CoQ9 which is much less expensive. The specific kind is less important, as a lot of the hype is for marketing purposes, and may not make that much difference clinically.
4 Selina // Jun 29, 2009 at 7:01 am
My husband’s triglycerides are extremely high and he is always tired; he has been since I met him 19 years ago. His doctor gave him a prescription for cholesterol medicine, however he doesn’t take it because he didn’t feel good about it. What is CoQ10 and could you give me a reliable source?
5 Sharon Beyler // Jul 2, 2009 at 11:02 am
A great place to learn the affects of statin drugs is http://www.spacedoc.com. Very educational and talks about the side affects. I searched it out when I was place on Lipitor and had major side affects. I will not take ANY statin drug after my research.
6 Dr. Stan Gardner // Jul 15, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Selina, Your husband probably has familial hypertriglyceridemia. If so, there is not a lot that can be done to reduce the level. All the statins are dangerous, so your husband is wise not to take them. CoQ10 is the critical element in the production of energy, and everyone would feel better on it. However, because of its expense, I use it only in people who are energy deficient, have heart problems or mouth gum issues. We will soon be making available reliable sources of supplements on this site (we hope).
7 Eden // Sep 1, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Dr. Gardner,
I’ve loved your articles since I first started reading them on Meridian Magazine. Thank you for your perspective, insight and wisdom. This article has really made me think about my own issue with obesity.
I am in my thirties and still struggling with my weight. I have been chubby since I was 5 or 6 years old. I have 7 siblings, none of who have had obesity issues. I am aware that I have endocrine issues, that I have metabolic syndrome and that I am an apple shape so I respond sensitively to any sugar. Last year I had an IgG test done and for the last eight months I have not eaten wheat, dairy, sugar, HFCS, any other sweetner (except occasional raw agave nectar), corn, oats, potatoes, or almost any grains.
All of that is to say that it seems I have issues with my gut. I’ve wondered for a very long time why I am the only one in my family who can pile on weight with superior ease and have a hard time losing it or even maintaining a stable weight. I’ve cleaned up my diet, I exercise, I am working on drinking more clean/pure water, I am working on a healthy mental outlook, but sometimes I wonder why me? Why can’t I eat or look like a normal person? Why has this challenge been with me since childhood.
I think I am on the road, but this article has provided what might be one more piece of the puzzle for me. Working on increasing the good bacteria in my gut. When I was three years old I spent a week in the hospital with double bronchial pneumonia and had a heart murmur. That has been the only hospitalization I have experienced. I have never been on antibiotics for any other illness. I am wondering if something may have happened back in 1977 when I was treated for that double pnuemonia. Something that messed up my gut and started me on this path of obesity. What do you think?
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