Happy Guts

I was in the grocery store the other day and I overheard a lady telling her friend that she was so stressed she got an ulcer. Hmm, I thought to myself, she should probably get tested for the H. Pylori bacteria. It seems that the long held notion that stress causes ulcers has still not been shaken. The fact is, while stress can worsen the symptoms of peptic ulcers and GERD or acid reflux, it has become known in the last 30 years that a specific bacteria is to blame.[i] [ii]

H. Pylori bacteria is recorded in about fifty percent of the world’s population. The “H “ stands for “Helicobacter” which is a type of gram negative Campylobacter bacteria.[iii]Helicobacter species, of which there are at least 35 identified, have a helix shape with 6 flagella. Flagella are like the tentacles on jellyfish that help them swim. Helicobacter bacteria have been around for thousands of years and have recently become antibiotic resistant experts in living as a parasite to humans. They are not the only Helicobacter species to cause stomach problems. Scientists are discovering more and more species, however Pylori is the one most studied to date. [iv]

It was previously thought that the stomach was a sterile environment. Scientists believed that nothing could possible survive the acidity of the stomach. For instance, our stomach acid pH is so low, if one were to take stomach acid and pour it on wood, it would burn the wood. How could something ever survive such a hostile place?

In the early 1980’s two scientists, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, purposed that ulcers were not caused by chronic stress. They discovered the accumulating presence of a certain bacteria, the Helicobacter pylori, wherever gastric inflammation was found. Their theory was that this bacteria was causing the inflammation and the subsequent tears in the stomach lining causing ulcers. They announced their findings to their peers only to be ridiculed. The scientific community denounced this theory due to lack of evidence and also because of the preconceived notion that nothing could survive the acidity. Out of desperation, Barry Marshall took a sample of H. Pylori from one of his distressed patients. He made a broth with it and drank it himself. Soon after, he experienced all of the same symptoms that were ailing his patients. He had nausea, some vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, headaches and fatigue. After taking a biopsy of his stomach, he confirmed, he had an H. pylori infection. My daughter reminded me that this was just like the villains in the Spider Man movies: The frustrated scientists that experiment on themselves! However, Barry Marshall was no villain. In fact, his method was particularly heroic and significant in its discovery. It took the scientific community a little while to catch up, but in 2005 Marshall and Warren won the Nobel Prize for their work in discovering H. pylori as the cause of peptic ulcers.[v]

That being said, there is such a thing as a stress ulcer, but it usually comes with sudden physical harm, like a severe injury, and pops up quickly within a day, while the injured person is at the hospital.

Stress can further exacerbate ulcers because stress produces cortisol, which stops the digestive process, causing food to ferment in your stomach. We are governed by our ancestral neurotransmitters. If a saber tooth tiger was chasing you, your hormones change to move all of your energy toward fight or flight. As a result, cortisol increases and things like digestion become second fiddle. No need to digest anything until you make sure you are not digested by some predator yourself! (Same with testosterone decline as cortisol rises –no need to practice reproduction while being chased by a tiger) These days, it’s not tigers chasing us. (Usually) Rather it is perceived chronic stress wreaking havoc on our systems. [vi]

What does the H. Pylori bacteria mean for you or your friends or that woman I overheard in the store? It means that if you have GERD (acid reflux) or peptic ulcers, or discomfort from eating , it’s very possible you have an H. pylori infection. Although it is more common in non-western societies where sanitation is not so good, it is quickly becoming common in the Western world. Why?

H. pylori comes from contamination from feces. It was originally found in higher incidence among farms where pigs and chickens were raised. Factory farmed pork and chicken early on became possible sources. However, the reason it is becoming more and more widespread is due to the now higher instances of contamination through vegetables. [vii][viii] [ix]As Western society promotes “plant based” as the new virtuous eating style, more and more consumers are becoming contaminated with H. pylori found on lettuce, leeks and other raw vegetables. Lettuce is number one. Since H. pylori is in abundance in less sanitary countries, these same countries grow vegetables that are then shipped to places like America. The trend I am seeing in my practice as a Metabolic Analytics Practitioner is that the vegans and vegetarians are getting GERD and H. Pylori infections at a faster growing rate. It turns out it is not just my experience. There is a study of elderly patients that show that those with a vegetarian or vegan diet have a profoundly higher rate of H. Pylori infection than meat eaters. [x]

H. Pylori also interacts with your existing gut microbiota- all of the other bacteria living in your gut, altering it to become imbalanced or in “dysbiosis”. Scientists are not still sure how this happens, but they do know it happens. These little critters live on the mucosal lining in your gut, which protects your epithelial lining from gastric acids. When they break down the mucosa through creating inflammatory cytokines, you develop irritation and ulcers. They survive the hostile acid by producing urease which breaks down uric acid, making their surrounding environment livable. It also makes you less likely to be able to digest your food properly. Then, your food ferments in your stomach causing an acid imbalance, reflux and malabsorption of nutrients. [xi]The acid coming up to your throat burns because there is no protective lining in your esophagus. It is not too much stomach acid causing the reflux, but too little. This is why the commonly prescribed PPI (Proton pump inhibitor) is only a band-aid the situation by offering temporary comfort, but doesn’t address the root of the problem. It actually worsens the original problem! By having enough stomach acid in the first place, you can avoid getting an overabundance of pathogenic bacteria. Our pH is meant to be low (remember low pH means more acidic) enough to kill micororganisms coming into our body. Animal protein, for instance, increases gastric acid secretion. Soy and other trendy plant based eating styles have been shown to decrease gastric acid secretion.[xii]In my experience, if you are not eating a quality animal protein at the first bite of each meal, you are setting yourself up for pathogenic overabundance. H. pylori don’t like acid and will avoid it if possible.

These active bacteria also use their TlpB receptors, like noses, to sniff out the less acidic pockets of your gastric pits, the little canyons in your stomach lining. [xiii]The problem with this, is that your gastric pits contain very important cells like parietal cells and stem cells which the H. pylori disrupt. These cells create the important gastric juices, like Hcl and pepsin that digest your food to allow you to absorb nutrients. Not only that, but decreased gastrin and pepsin have been linked to depression. By creating toxins like ammonia and endotoxins, these H. pylori bacteria multiply the rate of cell splitting exponentially. This cell splitting mutation is part of what leads to gastric cancer, the third leading cancer in the world.

What to do about H. Pylori or other gastric inflammation? Although there has sometimes been found an inverse relationship between H. pylori and other digestive issues like Ulcerative Colitis, and Chrohn’s Disease, the latest research (2020) shows that ultimately H. pylori is not protective in any way and is absolutely pathogenic. I have found the solutions to be the same. It all involves reducing the injured and inflamed tissue of the your gut.

It is so fascinating how science is constantly changing, especially related to gut microbiota. Our microbiota, weighing roughly 3 pounds, dictates the efficiency of our metabolism, immune response, neurological function, and more! It shares DNA, amongst itself creating new organisms as they interact. Thus, we cannot possibly understand or know everything yet about this complex environment. Up until about 2016, the literature proposed that by starving H. pylori of glutamine, one of it’s “fuels” that scientists could successfully eradicate the bacteria. What happened however, was the opposite. They proliferated. Why? Fast forward a few years to 2019 when the literature then said that it was discovered that through the TlpD receptor, one of the other “noses” of the H. pylori, it detected bleach. When our T cells are released to defend against pathogens, a bleach bath is created inside our body around the pathogen to kill it. What they discovered in this study was that not only was H. Pylori resistant to stomach acid, but that it was also resistant to bleach. It actually “smelled” the bleach and used it’s flagella to swim toward it and live in it. Yikes! When experimenting with glutamine again, scientists discovered that glutamine supplementation healed the inflamed and injured tissue that the bacteria was swimming toward. As a result, they did not swim and live there. As a result, the H. Pylori infection was diminished. [xiv]

One other thing to mention is the prevalence of IDA, or Iron Deficiency Anemia in relation to Helicobacter infections. Not only does this pathogenic bacteria disrupt the digestive juices needed to break down food and absorb nutrients, but it further “eats up” iron and B12.[xv] [xvi]If you or anyone you know has unexplained iron deficiency anemia, H. pylori is a good place to start. There are a few methods doctors use to test. The most common is the urea breath test.

I have found this same scenario that happened with healing the gut with glutamine happen with many of the other gastrointestinal issues as well. Heal the inflammation: heal the illness. My shortcut list on how I’ve successfully done helped with this absolutely starts with glutamine. My favorite supplement is Glutamed by ATP Lab. Glutamed is made of glutamine and glycine. Glycine has also been proven to be an antimicrobial against H. pylori and other stomach pathogens. Glycine also makes collagen, which is the main construct in our stomach lining, skin, and organs. [xvii] [xviii] [xix] [xx]

Another effective antimicrobial is Zinc, the essential nutrient that is encoded in our DNA. [xxi]

Next up I have my clients increase the amount of quality animal protein in their diet and decreasegrains, sugars, and dairy. That latter trio: together or separate, are very inflammatory to the gut. NSAIDS like ibuprofen also make the gut compromised and torn leaving it susceptible to H pylori infection. As well, eliminating anything artificial or processed is proven to help cure H. Pylori. Artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners create inflammatory markers. Processed foods high in nitrates or preservatives with high sodium content had the highest correlation of H. pylori infections developing into gastric cancer. Not all H. pylori developed into cancer. Scientists are pinpointing which environmental factors push it into development. So far, high sodium in processed foods and environmental toxins are two known factors.[xxii] [xxiii]

Animal protein, particularly red meat, is shown to have high amounts of glutamine, glycine and zinc, all of which are very good for healing the mucosal lining. Bone broth is another excellent addition. If a person is an ethical vegetarian and keeps having ailing stomach problems, at one point they have to ask themselves if they value their life? Millions of rodents such as field mice, die upon harvesting crops such as corn or soy which they are still eating. Who’s life are they trying to save? One cow? Is a cow’s life more important that a mouse’s? Is their own life and health important to themselves and their family?

Returning to the protocol,: Licorice extract keeps H. Pylori from adhering to the mucosa.[xxiv] Aloe heals the injured and inflamed lining. and has been named as “novel strategy” against H. pylori adhesion. [xxv] [xxvi]Blueberries or Bilberries (Huckleberries) have plant toxin called anthocyanin that kills pathogens like H. Pylori.[xxvii] Boswellia healed ulcers in mouse models.[xxviii]Omega 3 fish oil and curcumin have all been proven to diminish pathogenic bacteria and quell inflammation. Omega 3 supplementation further reduced gastrointestinal cancer risk.[xxix] I give recommendations of each based on individual consultation, but these are some that have worked in my experiences. Sulforaphane from broccoli has sometimes been touted as beneficial due to its stimulation of the Nrf-2 pathway in cellular antioxidant defense, however in my clinical experience, if the gut bacteria is compromised, broccoli is NOT digested well and causes bloating and gas. Thus, I skip this one in favor of other Nrf-2 pathway stimulants like exercise and sauna.

Always check with your physician before changing your diet or supplement routine, but also ask your physician how much they know about H. pylori and the latest research- as it is ever changing. Do they know that it is attracted to bleach via the TlpD receptor? Do they know that H. pylori has become antibiotic resistant and that in almost half the cases it doesn’t work? Do they know PPI’s create recurrence of infection? There are over 45,000 articles on the Pub Med datatbase of journal articles that relate to H. pylori.

I hope this article explains a bit about gastric inflammation and possible stomach pathogens. Furthermore, I hope it explains one of the many reasons why you might often hear me promote a quality animal protein based diet.

Go take care of your critters!

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[i]Sjomina, Olga, et al, “Helicobacter pylori infection and nonmalignant diseases.” Helicobacter, Sept. 2017

[ii]Yucel, Oya, “Interactions between Helicobacter pylori and gastroesophageal reflux disease,” Jan 2019

[iii]Gram –negative means that the type of cell membrane of the bacteria does not illuminate when dyed in the Gram methold

[iv]Hussain, Syed Arshad and Hamid, Shamila, ‘Helicobacter pylori in humans, where are we now?” Adv Biomed Res, 2014

[v]The Nobel Prize Press Release, 3 Oct 2005, nobelprize.org

[vi]Murni Wdya Arina et al, “Analyzing Determinant Factors for Pathophysiology of functional Dyspepsia Based on Plasma Cortisol Levels, IL-6, IL-8 Expressions and H. pylori activity. Acta Med Indones 2018.

[vii]Moreno-Mesonero, Laura, et al, “ Evidence of viable Helicobacter pylori and other bacteria of public health interest associated with free-living amoebae in lettuce samples by next generation sequencing and other molecular techniques.” Int J Food Microbiol, 2020.

[viii]Atapoor, Shahrzad, et al, “Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Various Types of Vegetables and Salads,” Junishapur J Micorbiol, May 2014

[ix]Hemmatinezhad, Behsan, et al, “ VacA, cagA iceA and oipA genotypes status and antimicrobial resistance properties of Helicobacter pylori isolated from various types of ready to eat foods.” Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2016.

[x]Zhang, Mei,et al, “Seoepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly people in the Beijing region, China.” World J Gastroenterol 2014.

[xi]Sipponen, Pentti et al, “Chronic Gastritis.“ Scan J Gastroenterol Jun 2015

[xii]MacArthur, Katherine et al, “Soy Protein Meals Stimulate Less Gastric Acid Secretion and Gastrin Release than Beef Meals,” Gastroenterology. Oct 1988.

[xiii]Hanyu, Hikaru, “Helicobacter Pylori uses the TlpB receptor to Sense Sites of Gastric Injurty.’ Infect Immun 2019.

[xiv] Perkins, Arden, et al, “Helicobacer pylori senses bleach (HOCl) as a chemoattractant using a cytosolic chemoreceptor.” PLos Biol 2019.

[xv]Shuval, Sudai, Ora, et al, “An association between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum vitamin B12 levels in healthy adults.” J Clin Gastroenterol 2003.

[xvi]Choe,YH, et al, “Helicobacter pylori-associated iron-deficiency anemia in adolescent female athletes.” J Pediatr Jul 2001.

[xvii]Amagase, Kikuko, et al, “New frontiers in gut nutrient sensor research: prophylactic effect of glutamine against Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric diseases in Mongolian gerbils”. J Pharmacol Sci 2010.

[xviii]Hagen, Susan, et al, “Inflammation and foveolar hyperplasia are reduced by supplemental dietary glutamine during Helicobacter pylori infection in mice.” J Nutr May 2009.

[xix]Minami, Masaaki et al, “Effect of glycine on Helicobacter Pylori in vitro.” Antimicrob Agents Chemother Oct 2004.

[xx]Gonciarz, Weronika, et al, “The effct of Helicobacer pylori infection and different H. Pylori components on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells and fibroblasts., PLos One 2019.

[xxi]Huang, Yanqiang et al, “In Vitro and In Vivo Activities of Zinc Linolenate a Selective Antibacterial agent against Helicobacter pylori.” Antimicorb Agents Chemother 2019.

[xxii]Caston, Rhonda, “Effect of environmental salt concentration on the Helicobacter pylori exoproteome.” J Proteomics 2019.

[xxiii]Xu, Ying, et al, “Changes in biological and virulent characteristics of Helicobacter pylori exposed to high salt.” Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2011.

[xxiv]Fukai, Toshio, et al, “Anti-Helicobacter pylori flavonoids from licorice extract.” Life Sci 2002.