I am 24 years old and have never once experienced food poisoning, indigestion, bloating, or gas, even after consuming similar amounts of the same food that caused it in other people, nor have I had the stomach bug since I was in elementary school. Are there bacteria in the gut that are specific to different types of food poisoning? How does one person acquire them? Are there any genetic factors that influence whether an individual will have them?
Impact of gut health on food poisoning or sensitivities
- Thread starter morea
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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8733563/
Read the sections "Pathogen Resistance by Commensal Gut Microbiota" and "Gut Microbiota and Pathogen Colonization Resistance Mechanisms"
Your microbiome has what's called "colonization resistance" to gut pathogens that cause food poisoning like Salmonella. You don't want to acquire infectious pathogens like this, and your gut microbiota and immune system will work hard to make sure they don't continue living in your body if you accidentally ingest some. The microbes in your gut provide this colonization resistance through various mechanisms like competing with the pathogenic bacteria for nutrients, producing toxic byproducts that harm them, and alerting the immune system to their presence. Also in response to a gut infection the intestines generate more mucus to try to prevent the pathogens from attaching to intestinal walls and of course the body creates antibodies and launches an immune attack to directly kill them. People with less healthy microbiomes are more susceptible to food poisoning because they have lower colonization resistance and weaker immune systems.
A pretty safe way to add more beneficial bacteria to your microbiome and increase gut health is by consuming fermented foods. Hstorically they have always been a part of the human diet.
So if I'm understanding your questions:
1. No there are not specific bacteria in your gut that prevent infection it is prevented by the system as whole. There are specific pathogenic bacteria that cause infection/ food poisoning though.
2. You don't want to acquire pathogenic bacteria that cause food poisoning.
3. Your microbiota are more dictated from your mother's microbiota, diet, geographic location, and antibiotic history than genetics.
Read the sections "Pathogen Resistance by Commensal Gut Microbiota" and "Gut Microbiota and Pathogen Colonization Resistance Mechanisms"
Your microbiome has what's called "colonization resistance" to gut pathogens that cause food poisoning like Salmonella. You don't want to acquire infectious pathogens like this, and your gut microbiota and immune system will work hard to make sure they don't continue living in your body if you accidentally ingest some. The microbes in your gut provide this colonization resistance through various mechanisms like competing with the pathogenic bacteria for nutrients, producing toxic byproducts that harm them, and alerting the immune system to their presence. Also in response to a gut infection the intestines generate more mucus to try to prevent the pathogens from attaching to intestinal walls and of course the body creates antibodies and launches an immune attack to directly kill them. People with less healthy microbiomes are more susceptible to food poisoning because they have lower colonization resistance and weaker immune systems.
A pretty safe way to add more beneficial bacteria to your microbiome and increase gut health is by consuming fermented foods. Hstorically they have always been a part of the human diet.
So if I'm understanding your questions:
1. No there are not specific bacteria in your gut that prevent infection it is prevented by the system as whole. There are specific pathogenic bacteria that cause infection/ food poisoning though.
2. You don't want to acquire pathogenic bacteria that cause food poisoning.
3. Your microbiota are more dictated from your mother's microbiota, diet, geographic location, and antibiotic history than genetics.
Michael Harrop
Active member
This is not good general advice, and is largely misinformation. https://humanmicrobiome.info/probiotic-guide/
Michael Harrop
Active member
Even so, I don't think "they add more beneficial bacteria to your microbiome and increase gut health" is correct. I don't think there's strong evidence that they're only beneficial for most people (or healthy people) and able to increase gut health. Studies have identified some possible mild benefits, but it's difficult to weigh that against possible detriments, along with great person-to-person variation. https://humanmicrobiome.info/probiotics/
I think most recommendations other than "you can try them and see how your body reacts" are overselling them.
And "Historically they have always been a part of the human diet" is an appeal-to-nature fallacy.
I think most recommendations other than "you can try them and see how your body reacts" are overselling them.
And "Historically they have always been a part of the human diet" is an appeal-to-nature fallacy.
I have not read the studies on fermented foods in healthy people so I'll take your word for it since I don't plan on reading them anytime soon. (I would if I had more time/energy and was considering trying them though.) I have seen fermented foods widely promoted and I suppose I bought into the idea they are generally good for people without gut issues without critically investigating it. Thanks for pointing that out.
A widespread problem among people on a Western diet is a gut that is too alkaline and since fermented foods have the potential to reduce pH, even when sterilized, I think they are worth considering under the framework you suggested - try a small amount and see how your body responds. That is, for people without gut issues.
A widespread problem among people on a Western diet is a gut that is too alkaline and since fermented foods have the potential to reduce pH, even when sterilized, I think they are worth considering under the framework you suggested - try a small amount and see how your body responds. That is, for people without gut issues.