EiR Blog

Most people suffering from environmental illnesses experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of some kind, or show other signs that something is not quite right in the gut. Perhaps tests such as a comprehensive digestive stool analysis (CDSA), or equivalent, reveal an imbalance in the normal balance of bacteria, yeast, and other microbes that is essential for overall health. Research has revealed pathological changes in the composition of the gut flora (gut dysbiosis) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, and autism...and this is a relatively new area of study so this may only be the tip of the iceberg. The most common (and most widely accepted) finding has been the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in IBS, ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Healthy individuals have very little bacterial growth in their small intestines (most gut microbes reside in the colon) - SIBO is the presence of large numbers...

Continuing my series on interpreting the sometimes confusing results of the Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) today we're going to look at the Microbiology section.   Beneficial Bacteria By now almost everyone has heard of so called "beneficial" or "friendly" bacteria, thanks mainly to probiotic yoghurt advertising that seems to be everywhere these days. Beneficial bacteria are in basic terms seen as the good guys within a huge community of bugs that inhabit our gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A lot of research has gone into understanding their role over the past few decades. Some of their benefits include: - Physical crowding out of less desirable microorganisms - Production of antimicrobial substances to keep pathogens at bay - Breaking down bacterial toxins - Production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which keep GI tract cells healthy, provide a source of energy and help to maintain a healthy GI tract pH. - Digestion of proteins -...

It is an inesacpable reality that the health of the entire body is compromised if the gut and digestive organs are not healthy. For example, insufficient production of stomach acid, bile, and/or digestive enzymes results in inadequate digestion which can lead to nutrient deficiencies and increased risk of food allergies and intolerances. The composition of micro-organisms which make up the gut flora is now also recognised as being pivotal to overall health; too many of the wrong kinds of micro-organisms can result in leaky gut syndrome and the absorption of large quantities of toxins and allergens. With this in mind, many people suffering from ill health that has not been adequately addressed by conventional medicine choose to have a Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) carried out. This test is now available from a number of independant labs and involves the examination of a patient's stool sample to determine if the digestive system...