Staying Healthy in the Fast Lane

staying healthy in the fast lane

bacteria, and fungi do not grow in excess, causing inflammation of
the gastrointestinal mucosa and increasing the risk of allergy and
food intolerance.
It has been shown that probiotics such as Lactobacillus rham-
nosus, when given to mothers during pregnancy and/or lactation,
and to the infants as soon as they are born, result in fewer allergies
(atopy) later on in life.^2
You will see the term “probiotic” all over the Internet and in
medical journals. These organisms are the subject of intense re-
search and may even be valuable in the critical care setting in hos-
pitals by reducing infection and sepsis and length of hospital stay.^3
At an international meeting on probiotics in Córdoba, Argen-
tina, in October 2001, this working definition for probiotics was
agreed upon for the meeting: “Live microorganisms which when
administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the
host,” but limited the scope of the discussion to “Live microorgan-
isms which when consumed in adequate amounts as part of food
confer a health benefit on the host.”^4
Good digestion is very important in reducing food intolerance.
The smaller the fragments of food absorbed through the gut, the
less likely they may trigger a reaction or be recognized by your
immune system as a foreign substance. If the gut wall is inflamed
enough to cause increased intestinal permeability (bigger sieve-
like holes in the gut wall), then bigger than normal molecules
could be absorbed, triggering even more and greater food reac-
tions anywhere in the body.^5
“Intestinal permeability” is a term you should remember. It
means damage to the bowel lining, caused by medications, toxins,
poor diet, food intolerance, parasites, fungus, bacterial overgrowth,
or infection. Intestinal permeability can lead to toxins, microbes,
undigested food, waste, or larger than normal macromolecules be-
ing absorbed and causing a reaction locally or elsewhere in the
body.^6
Change in intestinal permeability is one variable why symp-
toms to foods can change from allergy test to allergy test or with
time. If your intestinal permeability is reduced, you will have
smaller sieve-like holes in your gut and less uptake of foreign