Hi,
I know you all might not be interested in this, but I thought I would send this to all of you to decide for yourself. Wife Nancy, sister Nancy Roth, Ken/Jackie, Laurie, and daughters Lori and Amy, have been sharing thoughts on diet lately. If any of you are interested in continuing the discussion with us, let me know, otherwise I will not include you most of the time.
As most of you know, I have been experimenting with potato starch as a 'resistant starch' in my diet for a few weeks now, usually 2/3 times daily, but over vacation period when I was traveling, not daily. Ken has also been taking it now for a couple weeks.
The whole idea is to feed the good bacteria in the large intestine (colon). Potato starch is one of the highest percentage resistant starches on the market and it's inexpensive, so that's why I've been using it - Bob's Red Mill Potato Starch.
Resistant starch is considered a PRE-biotic rather than a PRO-biotic (which is what all the yogurts and kefir type products in the supermarket are). Probiotics feed the small intestine and maybe the beginning of the large intestine, but don't make it to the bacteria in most of the colon. Prebiotics, because the are not digested in the stomach or small intestine, make it to the colon and feed the colon bacteria - basically allowing the good bacteria to outnumber the bad bacteria. The bacteria produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA), one of which is butyrate, which is very important for the intestine/colon wall health. The bacteria produce other vitamins and chemicals which can be good or bad for the body depending on the bacteria.
I have been trying to eat better and not drink alcoholic beverages in an attempt to lose more weight and be in better health (unsuccessfully so far - for a number of reasons I suppose). Since last year, I am experiencing irregular heartbeat and trying to see if there is something that I can do to get it more regular without taking medications. I also am struggling with high blood pressure and use a CPAP machine to help me breath when sleeping due to snoring/loss of oxygen. I'm hoping that if I can lose weight, maybe my issues will get better. I've been struggling with some of these issues for thirty years. (It's hell getting older :>)
The major things that I have noticed by taking the resistant starch: (1) I sleep better; (2) I have had better bowel/toilet sessions; (3) My blood glucose levels remain lower after eating and in the morning; (4) My gut seems to feel better.
The below article by one of the bloggers I follow is interesting and worth reading. He has been a major player lately in getting the word out to many people about the benefits of resistant starch - especially to diabetics who have to be concerned about their blood glucose levels. A book is forthcoming that references all of the science and studies behind resistant starch. (There is no profit in this type of research for pharmaceutical companies.)
In the article below he has been experimenting with 'dirt' bacteria. He also questions what our proper diet should be. The hypothesis being that probiotics and prebiotics only feed the current bacteria in your system, but if your body is lacking other good bacteria (because of antibiotics you have taken killed them off, or because you didn't receive them from breastfeeding, or did not receive the bacteria from childhood playing in the dirt, etc), then you need to introduce them to your system and feed them. Look at the rat study he points to in the article. Other research has shown amazing results when one person's colon bacteria are put into another person's colon. This is a new area of research that is showing how we are not just made up of our own body cells, but also all the bacteria and viruses that live with us.
Very interesting stuff.
Anyway, I hope you aren't completely bored with this, but I think that the more science research looks at this, the more interesting findings there are going to be in this fascinating area.
Warning: This blogger can use rough language, so be prepared if you look at any of his other posts. Also, the comments and side discussions from everyone who monitors his blog are often very interesting and worth looking at if you have the time.
Here's the Free the Animal blog: Probiotics: The Genetic Component of Obesity
Here's also a neat short TED Video on visualization of the gut and it's bacteria: Larry Smarr: Can we quantify our own illness
Hugs,
Carl
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