A good gut feeling about coffee---and how to treat difficult intestinal infections

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It’s hard not to go down a rabbit hole if you google ‘fecal transplant.’

There’s so much to explore—so many questions to answer. Where does the ‘good’ poop come from? (Other people with healthy microbiomes.) How is it stored? (Different ways—but it should be fresh upon transfer.) How is it transplanted? (Note: Although fecal transplants are generally performed in clinical settings via enema, colonoscopy, or other methods, there’s a burgeoning DIY community.)

Fecal transplant, also known as fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), is intended to reinvigorate the body’s microbiome---the community of thousands of different types of bacteria that reside in the gut.

It’s true: Good health starts in the gut. In fact, the body’s microbiome is the epicenter of our immune system and implicated in everything from obesity, to chronic diseases, to severe gastrointestinal distress and illnesses, to mental illness. Metaphorically speaking, it’s a question of the balance between the good and the bad---bacteria that is.  

The goal of an FMT is to improve the bacterial profile of an individual’s microbiome by transferring healthy bacteria from a person with a healthy biome. During an FMT, more than one thousand bacteria are transferred (by comparison, there are about 30 different bacteria in top-brand probiotics).

The reason that FMT is becoming a household acronym is because it has proven helpful in beating the most persistent, painful and deadly cases of Clostridium Difficile (C diff), a 'bad' bacteria in the gut that causes inflammation and illness. .

C diff cases have been increasing, and the cases tend to be more severe than previously. CDC statistics peg the total number of cases at roughly 500,000 per year, with roughly 15,000 deaths as a result. While C diff is highly infectious and can be transferred simply by touching an infected surface, the real problem is that taking antibiotics can decimate the bacteria that could fight C diff and keep everything in balance, leading to an overabundance of C diff---and all the symptoms that come with it, including constant diarrhea, fever, gastrointestinal pain and profound fatigue.

C diff has replaced MRSA as the most common hospital-acquired infection, so numerous precautions should be taken in hospital settings. But even when there is no imminent threat, it helps to know that things like taking probiotics and drinking coffee can improve the overall profile of your microbiome.

In a study that was published in the International Journal of Microbiology in 2009, researchers found that individuals who drank 3 cups of coffee per day over a 3-week period, had an increase in the metabolic activity in their microbiome, with an increased presence of Bifido Bacterium species---good bacteria. Bifido bacteria coat the lining of the intestines, stimulate the immune system and combat C diff. 

When it comes to being healthy, every little bit helps. So a cup of coffee and a few more Bifido Bacterium swimming around your microbiome are good things.

If you’re interested you can learn more about Clostridium difficile here:


Comments

Kerry Schultz said…
AAHHHHHHH *sigh* what a yummy combination coffee and summers. Thanks for sharing your take on it, the summer and the coffee, it makes me want to take a walk down the memory lane and enjoy the feel of summer around me with the gorgeous cup of best coffee in my hand.
November 26, 2017 at 12:58 AM
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