iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll citlhscStressful emotions such as anger and fear trigger NE, leading to increased growth
of E. coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, un-
der stressful conditions, E. coli releases a substance that is essentially a “growth
hormone” for other gram-negative bacterial species, letting other potentially
pathogenic bacteria know it is their time to “multiply and attack.”
These stressful situations create a favorable environment for the often
pathogenic gram-negative bacteria and one that is less favorable to the
survival of beneficial bacteria such as the Lactobacillus species.
Numerous studies and case reports have found that exacerbation of intes-
tinal disorders tends to occur after a stressful period, and we now under-
stand the types of bacteria that reproduce during stressful times may be
associated with this outcome.
Diet
Changes in diet, even small ones, can have an impact on the type of
bacteria that thrive. A 15-gram-a-day diet addition of oligofructose or
inulin (fructose-based dietary fibers) leads to the bacteria Bifidobacterium
becoming the predominant bacterial species in the feces of individu-
als studied. Prior to the addition of inulin, Bacteroides, Clostridia, and
Fusobacteria were the predominant species present.
According to Elaine Gotschall, the author of Breaking the Vicious Cycle,
a diet rich in refined carbohydrates can lead to a compromised GI flora.
Anecdotal evidence shows that people who become affected with intes-
tinal disorders are more likely to eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates
compared with those who were unaffected.
What Happens When the Normal Flora Becomes
Imbalanced?
In this shift toward the proliferation of unfriendly bacterial species, the
excessive fermentation byproducts these bacteria produce lead to dam-
age of the intestinal tract, harming the delicate microvilli containing the
brush border enzymes responsible for digestion. In some cases, the intes-
tinal walls may produce more mucous as a protective mechanism from
the damage. The excess mucous then coats the brush border enzymes and
forms a barrier between the food and enzymes necessary to digest it.
In other cases, it has been reported that the mucous border may dimin-
ish, exposing the intestinal wall to damage. When bacteria become im-
balanced, the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria leads to damage of the
endothelial lining since pathogenic bacteria produce their own enzymes