Your Gut Connection
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Are probiotics a waste of time, money and maybe your health? With a recent CBC article making the media rounds titled Probiotics might not help your gut microbiome and could prevent return to healthy state, studies say, you can be forgiven for deciding to never take a probiotic again. That’s a pretty dramatic statement to make. The article highlights two recent studies. One demonstrated that taking probiotics does not necessarily repopulate your gut with those bacteria. Th...Continue reading

A decrease in grains AND legumes can be difficult for people doing a low-FODMAP diet as part of their gut treatment - but it seems sprouting the grains and legumes can lower FODMAP content (covered in water and soaked overnight for at least 12 hours). Things to take from the testing Monash University performed? 1. Sprouting grains or legumes may reduce the FODMAP content of foods. However, in some cases it is possible that sprouting will increase the FODMAP content (as seen ...here with chickpeas). 2. The effect of sprouting may be through enzymes present within the grain or legumes but further research is needed to confirm this. In addition, further testing will be required to assess the effect on other types of grains and legumes. 3. Testing your tolerance to foods is the best way to identify if you tolerate a food so if you would like to try sprouting, eat a small amount of your sprouted grain or legume and monitor your symptoms. http://fodmapmonash.blogspot.ca//sprouting-does-it-reduce-

Is gluten always the problem? For many people, taking gluten out of the diet can lead to feeling better. Less digestive issues, better energy, lower pain...a multitude of symptoms can improve. And for some people gluten is 100% the culprit - even beyond those with celiac disease. But it may not be as prevalent as we think. In a study reported in the journal of Gastroenterology, people who were on a low FODMAP diet (which includes very low/no gluten intake), on re-introduction... of gluten-containing foods the symptoms often returned. Which seems to mean gluten is the problem. But. If they were given 100% gluten (i.e. no other stuff associated with the grains) symptoms did not return. In this case it was likely the carbohydrates associated with the gluten containing grains that seem to be the culprit - not the gluten! Which means that the problem may have more to do with the microbiota and its reaction to certain components in wheat and rye (that are not gluten). Which means that not everyone needs to be 100% gluten free and potentially by simply taking out gluten, we're not actually fixing the problem. We're just masking an issue with elimination. This doesn't mean I'm advocating an all-wheat, all-the-time diet - most of the processed grain products on the market are crap. But if our goal is to look at the underlying cause of disease, gluten may be a red herring for some people. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23648697

If you're gluten-free or eating a lower refined carbohydrate this cauliflower rice primer may help you with this simple easy food option. But definitely not low-FODMAP friendly. http://www.epicurious.com//the-best-way-to-make-cauliflowe

Migraines and the gut - again. A recent study just demonstrated the link between oral bacteria and the risk of migraines. But now we have information on why people who get more frequent migraines may have problems with foods like cured meats, leafy greens, wine and chocolate. (Which is sad, I know). The nitrates found in these foods are processed by bacteria in the mouth. It seems that people with migraines are more likely to have more of these bacteria. Having an excess of t...hese bacteria in the mouth may contribute to efficient breakdown of nitrate contained in foods and food preservatives. The nitrates are finally converted into nitric oxide in the blood stream, causing vessels in the brain and scalp to dilate. And voila! Migraines happen. Which may be why some people find these foods a trigger and others don't - your own mix of bacteria play a huge part in both health and illness!