Dr. Will Bulsiewicz | The Gut Health MD

11 Health Concerns Women Typically Ignore, But Shouldn’t

will-admin — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 03:17:29 +0000

Originally posted on Bustle on January 23rd, 2018 by Carolyn Steber

When it comes to things your health is telling you, there are some health symptoms to never ignore. And sometimes, when it seems like it’s not a big deal, it’s easy to. Maybe you’re busy, and don’t have the time to pause and see a doctor. Or maybe you’re the type to press on with your day when you’re not feeling great. This is fairly typical — especially when so many health symptoms can be attributed to the likes of PMS, such as fatigue and bloating. But when it comes to certain health concerns, it’s important to pay attention to anything that seems odd, and chat with a doctor ASAP.

“Being your own health advocate means getting regular check-ups, taking care of your mental, physical, and emotional well-being outside of doctors visits, and taking care to notice when new health concerns emerge,” board-certified naturopathic physician Dr. Maria Geyman tells Bustle.

Even if something seems trivial, it’s important to keep following up. “Addressing a health issue preventatively or when it is emerging is often far less invasive than treating it once it has escalated,” says Geyman. “Regular follow ups with medical care ensures that a treatment plan is running an appropriate course and that the health condition is resolving.” So if you are experiencing one of these 11 symptoms, it may be a good idea to see your doctor.

1. Shortness Of Breath

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Little heart health symptoms — like shortness of breath — can be easy to ignore. But they really should spur you to see a doctor, especially if you also have intermittent fatigue. “These symptoms can easily be dismissed as being flu-like symptoms, but if they are persistent and not getting better it is important to investigate,” Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, cardiologist and national spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, tells Bustle.

“These could be the subtle symptoms that could be associated with heart disease,” she says. “Also, headaches and dizziness could be dismissed, but sometimes this could be a sign of a stroke. For both heart disease and stroke, getting timely help is essential to receive potentially lifesaving treatment.” Of course, these symptoms don’t always mean these health issues are imminent, but if you are feeling them persistently, checking in with your doctor is a good way to keep tabs on your health.

2. Bowel Changes

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It’s totally normal to have bowel changes if you alter your diet, or eat something out of the ordinary. So don’t jump to conclusions, or worry yourself needlessly, if your stools are suddenly different one morning. Do, however, pay attention if you also have blood in your stool, or are losing weight unintentionally, as it may be a sign of colon cancer.

“Colon cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related death for women, and it is unfortunately a disease that often goes undetected in the earliest, most treatable stages,” board-certified gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, MD MSCI tells Bustle. “A recent study found that colon cancer rates are on the rise in those younger than 55, most of whom are not old enough to have colon cancer screening yet.” Bowel changes won’t always indicate something as serious as colon cancer but experts say to be mindful of these changes, and speak with your doctor when necessary.

3. Ongoing Fatigue

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If you’re not sleeping at night, it might feel like it’s NBD. And yet, if this habit goes on, experts say it may take a toll on your health. “Women are particularly vulnerable to this — we’re busy, wear so many ‘hats’ at work and at home, and with fluctuations of hormones, we often miss good sleep,” Judette Louis, MD, MPH, co-author of the Society for Women’s Health Research guide Women & Sleep, tells Bustle. “Poor sleep can lead to serious health concerns like … fertility and pregnancy problems, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, mood disorders, and poor memory and concentration.”

Usually, tiredness is due to poor sleep hygiene and not getting enough rest. But sometimes experts say ongoing fatigue can also be a sign of a greater health risk, like sleep apnea. “While most people think of sleep apnea happening in older adults, it’s not uncommon for it occur in women during their childbearing years and through pregnancy,” says Louis. If you can’t seem to catch up on your rest, speak with your doctor or a sleep expert to see if this might be what’s keeping you up at night.

4. Thinning Or Brittle Hair

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It’s typical to lose about 100 hairs throughout the day, so a few more in your hair brush might not set off your warning bells. But if your notice patchiness, it may be worth looking into. “Hair that changes consistency can be a sign of many significant illnesses such as thyroid, autoimmune conditions or most commonly, key vitamin deficiencies,” Arielle Levitan, MD tells Bustle. “Be aware of your body, especially when things change and seek medical attention.”

A doctor can help you get to the bottom of what’s going on, and treat any underlying health concerns. You might simply need to up your vitamin intake, and add a few key nutrients to your daily routine. Regardless, do not panic — your doctor can help find a solution that is best for you.

5. Bleeding Gums

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If you occasionally see specks of blood on your gums when you floss, it might just be that you pushed too hard and cut your skin. But if you always notice blood, it may be time for a trip to the doctor. “Experiencing a little blood around the gum line after brushing or flossing is a definite health sign to not ignore,” Dr. Leslie Renee Townsend, DDS, of Jefferson Dental Clinics, tells Bustle. “An estimated nearly half the adult population in the U.S. has some degree of gum disease, which most notably causes bleeding gums, bad breath, puffy or swollen, tender, irritated and red-colored gums. At its most severe stages, gum disease can cause gum recession (when the gum tissue pulls back from the teeth), loss of jaw bone and tissue, and can cause tooth loss.”

Bleeding gums can also point to something going on in the rest of your body. “Bleeding gums is commonly a symptom of uncontrolled diabetes, certain vitamin deficiencies, leukemia, and other chronic illnesses,” says Townsend. “Some medications also have side effects that can cause bleeding gums.” While bleeding gums do not not always mean some of these greater health concerns, checking in with your dentist if you notice blood frequently is the quickest way to address the problem.

6. Pain During Sex

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Some discomfort may occur occasionally during sex, especially if you forgot to use lube. But excruciating pain, however, is something to pay attention to.

“One of the most common causes of pain during intercourse is a condition called ‘pelvic congestion syndrome,'” Dr. David Greuner, of NYC Surgical Associates, tells Bustle. Pelvic congestion syndrome is a condition in which varicose veins develop around the ovaries, often becoming backed up with blood, which can result in painful sex. “Though many women experience pain during intercourse, most are unaware of this condition. Pelvic congestion syndrome can cause severe pain, particularly in women who have had children, predominantly on the woman’s left side and most commonly with deeper vaginal penetration.” If sex is frequently painful for you, talk to your doctor about what can be causing this pain, and how to make sex more comfortable.

7. Bloating And Pressure In Your Abdomen

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Bloating is an issue you probably deal with all the time, usually as a result of something you ate, or as a side effect of PMS. But, in some cases, bloating can be a symptom of something else. If you also have persistent pain or pressure in your pelvic area, a change in bathroom habits — such as having to pee a lot — and a feeling of fullness that sets in soon after eating, take note.

In some cases, experts say this could be a sign of ovarian cancer. “All of the [symptoms listed] above are related to either accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, … or due to pressure from an ovarian mass or peritoneal irritation from cancerous implants throughout the abdomen or pelvis,” Steve Vasilev, MD, gynecologic oncologist and medical director of Integrative Gynecologic Oncology at John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA, tells Bustle. “The problem is that most of these are only appreciated when the cancer has already spread.”

There are ways to watch out for yourself, though. “The best advice rests with knowing your body and appreciating subtle changes,” he says. “If any of the above occur and are persistent, then a full evaluation is a very good idea.”

8. Vaginal Itching

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Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, can be easy to ignore or brush off, especially if you’re used to having itchy issues near your vagina or labia, like urinary tract infections (UTIs). BV has similar symptoms including vaginal itching, burning during urination, discharge, and a “fishy” smell.

You might be tempted to wait for it to pass, experts say not to. According to experts from Keep Her Awesome, a women’s health educational program, if left untreated, BV can increase your risk of transmission of STIs, including chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, and HIV. It can also increase your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect your chances of getting pregnant.

You might think over-the-counter remedies work to cure BV, but many do not effectively treat gynecological infections. Contacting your doctor at the first sign of this issue may be the best way to treat it.

9. Acid Reflux

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Acid reflux can simply be a sign you ate too much spicy food for dinner. Or, it could be a symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). And there are a variety of reasons why that may be the case. “Hormonal shifts in women may provoke heartburn episodes,” Atif Iqbal, MD, medical director of the Digestive Care Center at Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Center, tells Bustle. “Hormones can cause relaxation of the valve at the lower end of the esophagus that usually keeps digestive acids in the stomach, allowing acid reflux to occur. Fluctuations in estrogen can play a role, but the hormone progesterone is also known to trigger heartburn.”

If you have ongoing heartburn, it may be a good idea to visit your doctor to help alleviate this discomfort.

10. Frequent Urination

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Frequent urination can be a sign of something simple, like a urinary tract infection, which can be treated by antibiotics. If it’s ongoing, though, it may be time to speak with your doctor — especially if you have blood in your urine, a burning sensation while you pee, or pain above your bladder.

Experts sometimes attribute these symptoms to bladder cancer. “Bladder cancer is more likely to affect men than women. Due to this fact, it is sometimes overlooked in female examinations and many a female bladder cancer patient has reported being diagnosed with the disease while being evaluated for something else entirely,” S. Adam Ramin, MD, a urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, tells Bustle. “This is a good thing for cancers that are in their early stages, but being aware of the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer before it progresses to its later stages is very important.” While there is a chance you may not have bladder cancer, it is always a good idea to speak with your doctor if health symptoms persist.

11. Dry Skin

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If you’re always taking super hot showers, or going outside a lot during the cold months, you will have dry skin. And that’s totally not unusual. But if your dry skin is persistent, and if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, experts say it might be an early sign of diabetes.

“Skin can often serve as an indicator of overall health, and this is true especially for conditions like diabetes,” top dermatologist and RealSelf contributor Dr. Joel Schlessinger, tell Bustle. These other symptoms include scaly patches of skin on your eye lids, skin tags, ulcers on your feet, and skin rashes. If you notice these symptoms, as well as your dry skin, it may be best to speak with your doctor.

While it’s important not to jump to conclusions, keeping an eye on your health and speaking with a doctor when something feels off is always a good idea.

The post 11 Health Concerns Women Typically Ignore, But Shouldn’t first appeared on Dr. Will Bulsiewicz | The Gut Health MD.

What Are the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

will-admin — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 03:17:27 +0000

Originally posted on VICE on April 13 2018 by Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Prior to having my daughter Claire, I rarely had indigestion with the exception of the occasional night where I went a little heavy on the pesto and pasta. I certainly didn’t own a bottle of TUMS, let alone carry one in my tote bag. But when Claire arrived, my digestive system took note. That’s right—burping, reflux, and stomach upset paired with postpartum depression made me one sexy mama.

I tried cutting coffee and alcohol, and even “alkalinizing” the shit out of my body with everything green. I am, after all, the kind of person who tries to find a natural healing method before I call on the medical community. But ten months in, I still had no relief. So I finally caved and went to a gastroenterologist, who suggested an endoscopy.

When I woke up in the recovery room, he said he couldn’t find any inflammation or other red flags that pointed at an issue with my digestive tract. Perhaps, he said, I was just dealing with an imbalance of stomach acid and would need to right the ship with an over-the-counter drug like Prilosec. I asked him about apple cider vinegar, a suggested natural remedy for indigestion on many of the health websites I had scoured looking for answers. He smirked and said, “you can give it a shot,” then handed me the prescription for Prilosec and walked away.

Feeling defiant, I took the doctor’s advice to “give it a shot” and did exactly that—a small shot of ACV while standing in the middle of my kitchen. My throat lit up as if I’d swallowed fire. I then tried it again. It hit my digestive system, and everything started to feel fizzy and terrible. Thinking I had maybe gone about it wrong, I looked up a prescribed method for taking apple cider vinegar. Turns out you’re supposed to dilute ACV shots with water to avoid the whole my-insides-are-ablaze feeling.

But even with the addition of water and other dietary measures—like continuing abstinence from coffee and alcohol—the ACV didn’t do a thing. In fact, all it did was leave me un-caffeinated and sober with a constantly burning stomach that, while I had hoped indicated progress, was absolutely not progress. And I was still burping like a maniac.

What do people use apple cider vinegar for?

ACV has a long history as a home remedy and has been used to treat everything from a sore throat to high blood pressure. People with diabetes use it in hopes of keeping their blood sugar in check. Others say it’s good for keeping “bad” cholesterol levels low. And then there are those who go on about how apple cider vinegar can help with digestion, and reflux issues in particular.

When I inquired on my various social mediums about other people’s successes and failures with incorporating ACV into their diets, I got a lot of responses from people who said it did “wonders” for their skin when applied topically for issues ranging from eczema to acne. Others, of course, were ingesting it: One woman wrote that it had even helped her maintain a 15-pound weight loss. But others reported that ACV had upset their stomachs so much so that they threw up or had diarrhea that sent them running for the toilet. One London-based commenter said she tried a shot a day for about two weeks, but it would cause severe bloat and gurgling noises that kept her up at night. (She eventually found relief by seeking treatment for her underlying anxiety—likely the real culprit behind her digestive issues.)

Part of the reason for this craze is the heavy focus on fermented foods within the natural health community, says Elizabeth Trattner, a Florida-based alternative medicine specialist and acupuncturist. Because let’s be honest: If you don’t drink kombucha or make your own sauerkraut, then are you really living naturally? (P.S.: I may or may not have three kraut jars smelling up my house at this very moment.)

Has apple cider vinegar been proven to have health benefits?

Here’s the short answer: Nope. “There’s no great evidence supporting taking ACV, but mounds of evidence supporting that maybe you shouldn’t drink it,” says Rudolph Bedford, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “Studies have found that weekly consumption of apple vinegar increased the risk of dental erosion. The risk was positively associated with a habit of swishing and holding acid in the mouth, enhancing the contact surface area and time with the teeth.”

“I love natural remedies,” Will Bulsiewicz, a South Carolina-based gastroenterologist, says. “[But] in the case of apple cider vinegar, if you consider it to be a ‘cure all,’ you need to slow your roll.”

Bulsiewicz says there may be some health benefits to ACV, but they are modest at best and the data aren’t specific to ACV at all. “There are no studies to support ACV lowering cholesterol, eliminating toxins in the blood, or improving allergies, acne, arthritis, hiccups, leg cramps, or acid reflux,” he says.

The strongest data thus far, Bulsiewicz says, comes from a randomized, placebo controlled study in Japan in which, over the course of 12 weeks, subjects were given one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per day. The results showed weight loss and decreased visceral fat stores.

“What’s interesting, though, is that subsequent studies have shown this effect is not specific to ACV, but instead is related to acetic acid, which is the dominant acid in all types of vinegar, even kombucha,” Bulsiewicz says. “They also discovered that the more repulsive the vinegar drink is, the greater the weight loss is. That doesn’t bode well for ACV compared to other types of [more potent] vinegar.”

The deal with ACV for digestion:
Teeth aside, I was hoping the vinegar could do something for my digestive issues. According to some ACV advocates, apple cider vinegar works to balance your stomach pH (which is typically 1.5 to 3.5) and alkalize the environment, therefore keeping digestive upset in check.

But if you’re all, “wait, I thought apple cider vinegar was acidic” and feel like that claim is a bit confusing, then you’re not wrong, Bulsiewicz says. “[In the case of using] ACV for reflux, there is a theory in the naturopathic world that reflux is driven by too little acid,” he says. “With all due respect to those who hold this theory, it’s hard for me to fathom.”

Bulsiewicz explains that countless studies on the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid) showed that when you reduce stomach acid, you heal the esophagus. Period.

“So it’s hard for me to rectify that the opposite of this would also be true,” Bulsiewicz says, adding that many of his patients inquire about the use of ACV for reflux. “In addition to most of the patients telling me that their reflux got worse, I have the added benefit of being able to perform endoscopy on my patients so that I can directly visualize the lining of their esophagus,” he says. “And what I found was that consistently, my ACV patients were doing far worse harm to their esophagus.” Most of the time, Bulsiewicz says, he would discover that ACV-using patients had an ulcerated lower esophagus.

A 2007 study also pointed at ACV significantly slowing stomach emptying, Bulsiewicz says, which in the medical community, is known as gastroparesis. “These patients, who often have type 1 diabetes, suffer with chronic nausea, fullness and discomfort after meals, and even reflux,” he says. “If the food doesn’t go down, then it has a tendency to go back up.”

The gist? Chill with trying to reboot your digestive system with apple cider vinegar. By slowing gastric emptying, you will only unmask symptoms like reflux, nausea, bloating and general digestive discomfort. “To me, the results were indisputable,” he says. “So I no longer allow my patients to use ACV to treat their acid reflux.”

For blood sugar and cholesterol:
“I am constantly combing PubMed for definitive clinical meta-analyses and random double blind tests on any food or supplement to recommend to patients,” Trattner says. “Apple cider vinegar was really hot back in the ’80s and I am seeing a huge resurgence in it again with unreasonable health claims. There is a small amount of clinical data—in mice, at that—that demonstrates some benefit for lipid [fat compounds found in blood] reduction, but that is all.”

There’s also a small smattering of human studies when it comes to the benefits of apple cider vinegar for cholesterol reduction and blood sugar control. One at Arizona State University showed that a combination of 20 grams of ACV, 40 grams of water and 1 teaspoon of saccharine lowered blood sugar after meals for its 19 subjects. A Harvard study showed that women (without previously diagnosed cancer or cardiovascular disease) who ate vinegar and oil salad dressing had a decreased risk of heart disease. The 10-year long observational study was done through questionnaire and the type of vinegar used was not specified.

But Bulsiewicz says these small nods to the benefits just aren’t enough to outweigh the potential harm that regular ACV use can cause. Whether your looking to nix digestive issues, reduce fat, or get your type 2 diabetes under control, Bulsiewicz says a perfectly safe, healthier option is to supplement your diet with prebiotic soluble fiber. “Of course, supplements can augment but are never a substitute for a healthy diet that maximizes the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables,” he adds.

For skin issues:
I apparently didn’t learn my lesson when apple cider didn’t work for me the first time (and a solid mix of acupuncture and Lexapro for my reflux-inducing anxiety did), so I tried it once more when my on-again, off-again eczema cropped up a few months ago.

Like I do with any ailment, I did an online search that more or less reads “natural treatment for [ailment here].” It had been a bit since I had experienced an eczema flare up, so I was hopeful there was something new I might try. Lo and behold, it was ACV. Countless articles and natural health sites said apple cider vinegar could not only cool down my eczema, but wipe out my breakouts. Sold.

Turns out, if your insides are ablaze from ACV, then your skin will be too. I touched an apple-cider-vinegar-soaked cotton ball to my face (yes, I diluted it this time) and winced as my eczema became raised and redder than it already had been. I thought maybe it was all part of the healing process––pain first, then the results––so I tried it a several more times. No dice.

“I have no faith in apple cider vinegar,” says Charles Crutchfield, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University Minnesota Medical School and medical director of Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, Minnesota. “I know of no placebo-controlled medical studies that demonstrate it is effective.”

Crutchfield explains that it’s common for many skin conditions to wax and wane, meaning they most likely would have improved with or without the ACV.

“It’s cheap, readily available, stings and stinks, and it is something to do when nothing else seems to work, so that is why people use it or think it has some type of healing power,” he says. “[But] when my family has acne, eczema, or other skin issues, I would never tell them to use apple cider vinegar.”

As for acne, the thought process is that ACV may be useful in killing acne-related bacteria, but the research really isn’t there. If you’re determined to try it for a breakout, then be sure to dilute it first. Take note that if you have sensitive skin or an open wound, then ACV may only make the problem worse.

The bottom line:
“I think ACV looks and feels harmless, like your grandmother—it’s not slick,” Trattner says, making it easier for people to believe its holistic benefits. “Fermented foods are great in some cases and vinegar is part of that crew, but ACV is similar to kombucha in that there is some promise, but, again, little clinical evidence that the multibillion dollar industry produces actual results.” Shoot, if a natural health enthusiast shuts down ACV, then perhaps it’ll finally be enough to get people to stop guzzling it.

Barbie Boules, a registered dietitian in Illinois, says she’s even been game to search for those results by experimenting with natural health remedies for the sake of her clients. “Assuming, of course, that the practice in question is presumed to be at worst ineffective, but safe, I often guinea-pig myself because while I am an evidence-based practitioner,” she says, “I love hearing about legitimate alternatives to pharmaceuticals.”

But this one, Boules says, just doesn’t measure up. “In 16 years of practice, I have never had a client who benefitted in any measurable or perceived way from taking ACV as a supplement, nor did I,” she says. Trattner says, as opposed to apple cider vinegar, there are foods that have clinical evidence for helping various health issues, including turmeric, fish oil and ginger, all of which were studied through meta-analysis (a study of studies, essentially), the “gold standard of clinical evidence,” she says. There is even a 2013 study of more than 200 studies of ginger that shows its ant-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

“Random double-blind studies and meta-analyses are what you look for when checking the efficacy of a product,” Trattner says. So, yeah, health professionals aren’t exactly trying to be naysayers about the idea that food can indeed “be thy medicine.” They just need a little proof before doing so. As for ACV, it can certainly safely be incorporated as part of a healthy diet. But as Bedford bluntly put it: “It’s calorie-free and adds flavor to food, but there are no real health benefits.”

Boules says the hype surrounding apple cider vinegar is akin to that pegged to any single food or vitamin, mineral, or herb is the result of “a perfect storm of nonsense.” She maintains that optimal health is dependent upon what she calls the four pillars of wellness: nourishing food, sleep, moving your body, and managing stress.

“Like a table with four legs, you gotta keep them all strong or you’ll topple,” she says. “If one is weak, then apple cider vinegar isn’t going to fix that.”

The post What Are the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar? first appeared on Dr. Will Bulsiewicz | The Gut Health MD.

Carnivore Diet: Why This Gut Expert Does Not Recommend It

will-admin — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 15:20:09 +0000

Originally posted on Medical Daily on Sep 18, 2019 By Darwin Malicdem

Many people love eating meat. Some may prefer taking only red or white meat and fish for their daily meals, which is known as the carnivore diet

This approach mainly avoids consumption of vegetables. Will Bulsiewicz, a gastroenterologist, explained that unlike paleo diet that is known to be low in carbs and the very low-carb keto diet, all meat meals may provide no carbs at all.

The carnivore diet has been getting more attention following recent reports on its potential health benefits. However, Bulsiewicz noted this approach might negatively affect your gut health.

Diets have different effects on gut microbiota, the microorganisms present in your digestive tract. These organisms play key roles in the body, from supporting the immune system and metabolism, promoting hormonal balance, managing mood to maintaining brain function.

“I truly believe that all health starts in the gut. It’s not just about digestion,” Bulsiewicz said in an article for mindbodygreen. “When people take proper care of their guts, their health tends to follow. Disease gets reversed — or, better yet, prevented.”

But having only meat in your meals might disrupt the functions of gut microorganisms. In 2018, a study involving more than 11,000 people from 45 countries found that the body needs plants to maintain good gut health.

Bulsiewicz even described plant diversity in diets as the “most powerful determinant” of a healthy gut microbiome. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes provide the essential vitamins and minerals.

The main nutrient that plants provide to promote better gut health is fiber. Gut microbes consume fiber to produce postbiotic short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that help strengthen good gut microbes and fight inflammatory causing organisms.

The presence of SCFAs also help regulate blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol and boost the immune system. Such benefits then cut the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Since the carnivore diet lacks plants that are the main source of fiber, people on this diet may have lower levels of SCFAs. The plant diversity in their meals is “zero,” making the all-meat approach bad for your gut, Bulsiewicz explained.

In fact, researchers found in 2014 that the people who consumed only animal products had significant changes in their gut microbiome in less than 24 hours after starting the diet.

The participants appeared with significantly lower levels of SCFAs butyrate and acetate, higher antibiotic resistance in their gut and more inflammatory bacteria. They also had higher risk of colon cancer, liver cancer and Crohn’s disease.

“In just five days on a carnivore-like diet, the study revealed the human body began to replace ‘good’ anti-inflammatory bacteria with ‘bad’ inflammatory bacteria, starve our gut of healing SCFAs, and lay the foundation for antibiotic resistance, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer. None of that equates to a healthier gut,” Bulsiewicz said.

The post Carnivore Diet: Why This Gut Expert Does Not Recommend It first appeared on Dr. Will Bulsiewicz | The Gut Health MD.