Probiotics such as Lactobacillus. Is there such thing as good bugs?

Good bugs in your gut

The colon (also known as the large bowel) is a very important organ. It is teaming with bacteria (bugs). The skin (the mucosa) that lines your colon does not get enough blood supply to nourish itself. The large bowel fluid contains lots of different nutrients. These include: growth factors, vitamins, and antioxidants. Many of these nutrients are actually produced by friendly and protective bugs. Another name for these friendly bacteria is "probiotics".

Good bugs are called "probiotics"

There is lots of evidence for positive health benefits of probiotic bugs such as Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus (also known as "acidophilus") has been studied extensively in adults and children. When taken in a dairy product or as a capsule, it colonizes the gut for up to seven days. Extensive safety testing has shown no harmful effects in humans or animals. This is the list of proven benefits for Lactobacillus:

Helps switch off eczema

Helps with Traveller's diarrhoea

Reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

May benefit colitis.

In children’s diarrhoea, it reduces the severity and the duration of the attack.

Has beneficial effects on intestinal immunity.

Stimulates local release of interferon.

"What you eat and drink, shapes your life"

The dietary fibres and complex proteins in your diet are the building blocks that are used to make some of the nutrients for your colon. This is why fibre is so good for us. Fibre is found especially in whole fruits, vegetables and grains. The more processed the food, the less the fibre.

Foods that get to your colon do not get digested properly by your upper gut. These fibres help grow the friendly bugs in your gut. It is recommended that a minimum of 10% of ingested calories and about 20% of the food volume should be "colonic food" of fibre.

Fibre and lactobacillus keep you healthy

Today, many people have bowel problems. This is because of low levels of these good "probiotic" bacteria in their gut. Studies have shown that Lactobacillus can:

preserve key nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants

eliminate toxic components from food

protects food from intestinal decay

helps get rid of bad bugs.

Recommendation: Take a probiotic supplement each day.

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Egg allergy and vaccines (MMR) – is it safe?

A very common question about egg allergy is:

"Is it safe to give MMR vaccine to my child who is allergic to egg?"

The answer is yes! MMR is safe

This is an abstract from an early paper on egg allergic children and the MMR vaccine:

N Engl J Med 1995 May 11;332(19):1262-6
Safe administration of the measles vaccine to children allergic to eggs.
James JM, Burks AW, Roberson PK, Sampson HA. Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, USA.

BACKGROUND:

The safety of administering the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to patients who are allergic to eggs has been debated for decades because of concern about potential anaphylaxis, since the live attenuated virus used in the vaccine is grown in cultured chick-embryo fibroblasts. METHODS. We recruited 54 children (mean age, 18.5 months) who had not previously been vaccinated and were allergic to eggs. The children's histories of allergy were confirmed with skin tests and double-blind, placebo-controlled food-challenge tests; some children also underwent skin testing with the MMR vaccine. We then routinely administered the vaccine to the children in one subcutaneous (0.5-ml) dose. RESULTS. All 54 children had positive results on skin testing with egg. Allergy to eggs was confirmed in 26 of the children by convincing histories of anaphylaxis after the ingestion of eggs, in 22 children by food-challenge tests, and in 6 patients by convincing histories of recent allergic reactions occurring after the ingestion of eggs. Of the 17 children who underwent skin testing with the MMR vaccine, 3 had positive results. All 54 children received the MMR vaccine as a single subcutaneous injection; none had an immediate or delayed adverse reaction.

CONCLUSIONS: The MMR vaccine can be safely administered in a single dose to children with allergy to eggs, even those with severe hypersensitivity.

Egg allergy

The egg white is the most allergic part. Egg allergy is common, with about 1 in 20 babies being affected. The good news is that most children grow out of egg allergy. They usually will be able to tolerate eggs again by school age (by 5 or 6 years old).

Symptoms from egg allergy

• Skin reactions (urticaria/ hives/ wheals and eczema) are the most common symptoms.
  
• Most children with egg allergy have eczema.
  
• Some children will get choking and wheezing with larger amounts of egg.
  
• The reactions can be frightening and may appear life-threatening. However, children invariable recover.

Diagnosis of egg allergy

Skin prick testing is very helpful for diagnosis because most egg allergy is a quick onset type of reaction. They shoulkd be tested for a panel of foods, as children with egg allergy often also have peanut and cow’s milk allergy. Most children with egg allergy have eczema.

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Food additive concerns

At least 60 food additives are used in our foods which are questionable in terms of safety, or at worse, known to be harmful. This has been highlighted by a campaign

Food additive colours of especial concern

102, 104, 110, 122, 124, and 129. Studies from the University of Southampton UK (2007) have confirmed that these 6 colours could cause hyperactivity in children. See link. As a result of this research, these 6 colours were removed from ALL foods in the UK by the end of 2009. Please keep your unnecessary food additives down as much as practical.

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Gluten allergy is a common problem

Gluten, a substance in wheat, rye & barley grains makes a lot of people unwell. Gluten is the most common food that causes intolerance/ sensitivity. Wheat can also cause an allergy.


Gluten as a cause of food reactions is the least recognized allergen by the medical community. Coeliac disease is the most understood illness that is caused by gluten.

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