Submitted by Dr. Hoberman on Sat, 12/01/2007 - 00:00
What a wonderful time of the year!! The holiday season is all about sharing time with family and friends which usually means lots of food and drink. It is also a time for travel. Unfortunately, the GI tract sometimes is overwhelmed by the hearty meals and alcohol toasts. In addition, holiday travel exposures our intestines to all kinds of new bacteria, some friendly and some not. Eating foods with high sugar content - holiday cakes, candy and cookies - and drinking alcohol can alter the intestinal bacterial balance in favor of the bad bacteria. When these bacteria take over, they can affect our digestion, leading to those all too familiar symptoms of bloating and distention. Studies have shown that the sugars or carbohydrates in fruits and vegetables promote the growth and function of the healthy bacteria1. Unfortunately, holiday fruit generally comes in a fruitcake! Holiday traveling exposes us to the risk of consuming contaminated foods and drinks. Diarrhea is a very common complaint and can occur in 5 - 50% of travelers depending on their destination. A review2 of a number of studies on the value of taking probiotics to prevent diarrhea found that certain strains that are in EndoMune can lessen the risk. Best wishes for a happy holiday season and healthy 2008! Lawrence J Hoberman, MD Reference: 1) J Nutr 1995; 125:1401-1414 2) World J Gastroent 2006 Sept14: 12(34):5447-5457 Take Home Message Enjoy this joyous time of the year, but be sure to take your EndoMune if you plan on partying or traveling. It may not be a bad idea to leave a few capsules for Santa Claus as well.
