Chlostridium difficiale, commonly known as C.diff is a nasty intestinal infection. It causes diarrhea and is contagious. It has been linked to many health concerns. A number of years ago an episode of the CBC TV show “The Nature of Things”, hosted by Dr. David Suzuki, aired on Clostridium difficiale. The link between C.diff and autism was explored in that episode.
C.diff, as profiled in the CBC TV show is difficult to treat. I attended Naturopathic Medica School in Portland, Oregon. Years ago I heard about a treatment for C.diff in Oregon. It was “fecal transplant”. This is where fecal material from a healthy person is implanted into the lower intestinal tract of a person with C.diff. The results were so good that this treatment was accepted as the standard of care for C.diff.
Here is where the skinny sh_t concept comes in. In the treatment of C.diff, there were cases where fecal matter was taken from healthy thin people, and implanted into unhealthy and overweight people. The unhealthy overweight people improved their health, and they lost weight. Therefore, some of the doctors involved referred to the fecal transplant as skinny sh_t.
Now, while I agree that a healthy intestinal microbiome is an important part of everyone’s good health, I cannot agree with fecal transplant treatments. While it has been accepted as a standard of care there are potential complications. Just because one person appears to be healthy, they may not have a healthy gut biome.
You can support a healthy gut biome with a good diet, avoiding problematic foods, managing your stress levels, and by swallowing probiotics. For weight loss, and so much more, the probiotic Akkermancia, (commonly referred to as A. muciniphila) has solid research supporting its use. It looks like it could be the actual probiotic that produced “skinny sh_t”.
A. muciniphila regulates intestinal microflora and it supports digestive and immune system health. Regulation of the gut microbiome can also have a positive impact on weight control, as a balanced gut microbiome is closely linked to metabolism and the body’s ability to process nutrients efficiently.
A. muciniphila turns our gut mucus into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, which can be used as food by other friendly bacteria in the body. These SCFAs regulate appetite, increase insulin sensitivity, decrease inflammation in the gut and improve gut barrier integrity. SCFAs, particularly butyrate, are key promoters of colonic health and integrity.
A. muciniphila has been inversely associated with obesity, diabetes, inflammation and metabolic disorders. It has been demonstrated to have positive effects on the following health issues:
Obesity
Type 2 Diabetes
Metabolic Syndrome
Dysbiosis
Atherosclerosis
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Alcoholic Liver Disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Necrotizing pancreatitis
Irritable Bowel Disease
Drug-Induced liver injury
Cancer
Inflammation
Parkinson’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Depression
Autism
Epilepsy
Asthma
Psoriasis
Eczema
Urticaria
Atopic Dermatitis
Lung conditions
Autoimmune Diseases (RA, MS, Type 1 Diabetes)
Akkermansia muciniphila is available in pill form. The therapeutic dose of A. muciniphila varies between the various supplement suppliers. The Akkermansia product I recommend is dosed at one capsule per day, each containing one billion units.
Note: unlike certain super popular pharmaceutical medications that control blood sugar, reduce body weight, and have serious side effects, Akkermansia is a normal part of a healthy intestinal microbiome. And, unlike the pharmaceutical medication, you will not need to take it forever!
