How Gut Bacteria Affects Your Weight, and Why CAFO Meats Promote Antibiotic-Resistant Disease

Story at-a-glance

• New research suggests that as much as 20 percent of the substantial weight loss achieved from gastric bypass (weight loss surgery), is actually due to shifts in the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract
• Previous research has found that daily intake of a specific form of lactic acid bacteria can help prevent obesity and reduce low-level inflammation. Gut bacteria have also been shown to impact weight in human babies, and may help mothers lose weight when taken from the first trimester through breastfeeding
• Antibiotics are routinely fed to livestock not only to fight infection, but to promote weight gain. This can have a significant and long-term impact on your gut flora and overall health. It also drives the rise in antibiotic-resistant disease
• Making cultured and fermented foods a regular part of your diet is an ideal strategy to optimize your body’s good bacteria

Full Story from Dr. Mercola.com

About Dr. Mercola

Dr. Mercola finished his family practice residency in 1985 but was trained by the conventional model. In his first years of private practice, he treated many symptoms with prescription drugs and was actually a paid speaker for the drug companies.

But as he began to experience the failures of this model in his practice, he embraced natural medicine and has had an opportunity over the last thirty years to apply these time tested approaches successfully with thousands of patients in his clinic.

Over 15 years ago he founded Mercola.com to share his experiences with others. The site is the most visited natural health site in the world for the last seven years with nearly two million subscribers. He’s also written two NY Times bestselling books, and has had frequent appearances on national media including the Dr. Oz show and major news channels.

Read more about Dr. Mercola.