TRAFON (spell it backwards!)

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2007-01-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

I follow the news. I share my interviews. I post blog entries with stories and advice. It’s all in an effort to provide information, education, and hope for the countless people suffering from gastrointestinal disorders.

Many of my recommendations involve suggestions for hitting a local health food store, and first trying a particular natural means to promote healthier digestive functions. I don’t recommend brands, but I do recommend various types of products, like probiotics and enzymes, etc...... read more

Fat Rats Give Us The Skinny on Ghrelin

2006-08-16T10:54:00.000-04:00

The Scripps Research Institute released a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this month touting the positive effects of a vaccine that inhibits the protein ghrelin (which is linked to weight gain) in its test rats. Once vaccinated, the rats ate normally, yet gained less weight and less body fat than non-vaccinated rats.

Why should we care about skinnier rats? Because humans have this same protein, which means the vaccine may work for them too.

But before you run out the door to your local research lab and beg for ghrelin-inhibiting shots, read the whole article. Turns out that the vaccine works best when the rats ate low-fat, low-energy, ‘less palatable’ diets.

Hmm …

This begs the question in my mind: How much work does the vaccine actually do? As the Trafon blog always points out, healthier diets can curb excessive weight gain at the very least; stimulate weight loss at the very most; and prevent a whole host of other GI-related issues in between.

Incidentally, how did the researchers reach that odd, undefined ‘less palatable’ conclusion? Did they ask the rats? Sample the food themselves? Contrary to popular belief, healthier cooking can be quite tasty, even indulgent. Bon appetit, and please … don’t pass the ghrelin or the vaccine.

Saturn's Moon Emits Titanic Fart

2006-08-14T12:11:00.001-04:00

Last week, scientists discovered lakes on the surface of Titan, the largest moon orbiting Saturn, and the second largest in our entire solar system. But before you put on your bathing suit and gear up for a cannonball, read the warning sign: These lakes aren’t made of water.

NASA's Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, which is orbiting Saturn as we speak (type?), has helped to confirm scientists’ long-held theories about Titan’s atmospheric makeup. Titan’s atmosphere has a high percentage of methane and ethane gases, which together create a dense, smog-like cover that rains these chemicals in liquid form. The result: lakes and tributaries that don’t invite swimming.

Methane, by the way, is one of the odorless gases the produces flatulence. Just in case you still were thinking about dipping a toe in …

Another Load of IBS

2006-08-11T13:30:00.000-04:00

Just in case you didn’t believe me the first time around … here’s additional proof that drugs aren’t the only answer to IBS symptoms. Researchers reaffirm that most of the agita really does start in your mind, with strong emotions and stress listed as the most powerful triggers for IBS discomfort.

Faithful Trafon readers know that I’ve long asserted the brain/gut connection, and I’ll keep saying it until I get it into your—what else?—heads.

A Whale of a Fart

2006-08-10T16:17:00.000-04:00

We may finally have an answer to the age-old debate: Do fish fart? A new study reveals that, yes, some fish do omit gas—and that in some cases it can save their lives!

The findings suggest that herring escape the deadly grip of Norwegian killer whales by forming a wall of fart bubbles, then dashing off to safety.

According to Discovery News:

“The (herring) bubbles are released through the anal duct when the air expands as the fish ascend,” explained Malene Simon, who worked on the research. “We do not know if the fish release air when staying at one depth as a reaction when meeting a predator. However, it is very likely that the bubble will confuse or scare the predator in such a way that the herring will have a better chance of escaping.”

So there you have it: underwater farting as a survival tool. As for humans, I doubt fart bubbles will do much to ward off predators in the backyard pool, though they may create some unexpected tensions at the YMCA.

Eat Enough Limp Noodles ... Get Your Own

2006-08-08T15:07:00.000-04:00

Note: Obviously, this sensitive issue is targeted at the male population—after all, it is literally hitting below the belt. But women, take note too. You may be able to lend a helping hand to point your man in the right direction.

Is it hard for you to get a hard-on? It may because of your weight.

Not only does obesity increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, it also increases the risk of erectile dysfunction.

A recent study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the Journal of Urology found that men who were both overweight and physically inactive had a two-and-a-half times greater risk of ED than men who were active and of normal weight.

The reason? Obesity causes chronic stress and inflammation of the cells lining blood vessels, which impairs their performance and the flow of blood. This in turn impairs cardiovascular health and erectile function.

ED affects over half of American males between the ages of 40 and 70. Experts say that 90 percent of ED is physical in origin. That means the link between obesity and ED is very strong (as opposed to the limp result). In large-scale studies, nearly 80 percent of men who reported having ED were also overweight or obese.

However, there is an ‘up’ side to all this: Previous research has shown that overweight men who start losing weight mid-life have a 70 percent less risk of ever having ED than those who remain sedentary.

Even more arousing, a study conducted last year determined that weight loss could also reverse the ED that had already set in. So while hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on Viagra and other ED pills, there is a natural solution that can take care of your wooing-woes: weight loss.

This is further proof that there is no chronic degenerative disease on planet earth that is caused by a drug deficiency. If you want to help your doctor help you, take more responsibility for your own good health. Eat low-fat, low-calorie foods—as unprocessed as possible. And just taking regular 15 minute walks every day will help your weight loss efforts. (Read more of my posts about making a healthy diet yours.)

For more personalized sexual health advice, talk to your doctor. If you want to hear input from your peers, check out some online forums, but remember, your doctor’s guidance is always best!

You’ll know it’s all working when … well … let’s just say when things start looking up!

Thank You For Not Farting

2006-08-04T10:16:00.000-04:00

Imagine getting fined $200 for farting in the workplace. Apparently that’s the new law in Arkansas, which recently passed an act to “ban the emission of flatulent gases” within all office buildings and public spaces in the state.

Be sure to read the whole thing. Governor Huckabee’s closing remarks are quite a gas.

(NOTE: The 'Otus the Head Cat' column delivers 'humorous fabrication' every Saturday for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. So if you believed this article, look up--'gullible' is written on the ceiling!)

Why You Need Health AND Fire Insurance

2006-08-02T16:26:00.000-04:00

Though curiously popular with college students and bored pranksters, lighting one’s farts on fire is never a good idea. In fact, it’s downright dangerous. That’s because the combination of methane and oxygen can cause huge flare-ups, resulting in severe, long-lasting burns—not to mention fire damage to surrounding properties.

Don’t believe me? Then read this article about doctors at Southern Cross Hospital in Invercargill, New Zealand, who faced a fiery end to a routine hemorrhoid operation in March, proving once again that fart plus fire equals a prescription for disaster.

The Whole Truth About Whole Grain Bread

2006-08-01T09:56:00.000-04:00

I recently got a comment from reader Trint Ladd, who heard me on PowerFM in Dallas a month or so ago. He had a few questions about the new “whole grain white breads” popping up at supermarkets across the nation—specifically, why they all have a gooey, spongy texture, as opposed to the course, crumbly texture of wheat bread.

Trint also noticed that the first ingredient on the label of his favorite whole grain white bread was enriched bleached flour, not the typical whole wheat flour found in most wheat breads. Plus, his bread didn’t mold for two months! (Always cause for suspicion.)

Let’s break this mystery down. That soft, yummy, nostalgic bread texture Trint mentions comes from gluten, a natural component of wheat material (and the same stuff that makes bagels feel so chewy in your mouth). However, to enhance that gooey, spongy feeling, bread makers add extra gluten, which is already hard to digest because of its proteins. In fact, gluten’s digestive challenges are probably the biggest reason why most people develop wheat allergies.

Confusing, yes, but here are some tips to keep you from scratching your head in the bread aisle. Always look for some sort of “whole grain” as one of the FIRST ingredients on the bread label. Likewise, avoid any breads with extra added gluten if you’re trying to get the best from your processed grain products. This means your bread will have a coarser and drier mouth feel, and be easier than gluten for your GI tract to tackle.

Lastly, whole grain bread shouldn’t last many too many weeks at room temperature. It will probably need at least some refrigeration to survive even two weeks. If it lasts two months on the counter, with nary a moldy hair, that means there are a lot of preservatives, and not near enough nutrients in that loaf.

Now you know the truth, the whole wheat truth, and nothing but the truth.

Pound-for-Pound Return of Speakeasies

2006-07-27T12:41:00.000-04:00

Prohibition may return, and Chicago may be the first to feel its effects. But this ban is on something even greasier than Al Capone: trans fat.

Chicago City Councilman Edward Burke is turning up the heat to make it illegal for restaurants to use oils that contain trans fats, which have been tied to a string of health problems, the biggest one being coronary heart disease.

Per my recent post about diabetes and minerals, the quality of what you eat affects not only your digestive system, but your entire body system and overall health.

Consuming trans fat is a prime example. Trans fat raises your LDL cholesterol, which increases your risk for coronary heart disease, clogged arteries, and heart attacks. It’s also known to focus weight gain around the waistline.

Trans fat is made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil in a process called hydrogenation. It’s then used to make vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, fast foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.

But luck is on your side: Beginning this year, the FDA requires that nutrition labels list trans fat content. Compare how your choices in fats stack up, and find out just how much trans fat you are consuming.

Also, start reading nutrition labels, and try to consume as little trans fat as possible. Instead, use vegetable oils that are high in unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil.

That way, nothing’s prohibiting you from enjoying good-tasting food that good for you, too.

Minerals Make the Insulin Go 'Round

2006-07-25T16:25:00.000-04:00

While my blog discusses the good, the bad, and the smelly of digestive issues, I must clarify one thing about the body: Every biological system in the body is somehow linked together. No system in the body will work at its best if the quality of nutrients is poor, and the digestive system isn’t working well.

When it comes to diabetes, it is crucial to pay attention to the quality of the digestive system, because it impacts the entire body, and, of course, your life.

In type 1 diabetes, the insulin comes from an outside source. People with type 1 need to
provide the nutrition that the body requires to properly use the insulin.

In type 2 diabetes, the body can produce the insulin, but can’t use it properly. Again, the body is missing important cofactors, like nutrients.

The nutrients required by type 1 and type 2 diabetics are the same. Nutrients crucial to proper insulin function include fatty acids, amino acids, glyconutrients (nutrients made of sugar), and most importantly, minerals.

The key minerals that diabetics need include chromium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. All of these minerals can be found in whole grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables. You can also take supplementary minerals.

Here are my mineral recommendations for diabetics:

1. Chromium helps maintain normal glucose levels. There are a number of forms of chromium, all of which differ significantly, even if they have the same-sounding name. I recommend an oxygen-coordinated chromium nicotinate form, commercially available as ChromeMate®.

2. Magnesium promotes healthy cardiovascular and nerve function. Zinc promotes immunity and growth. I like a product called ZMA™, which is a combination of magnesium and zinc.

3. Potassium is crucial for the production of energy, muscle function, and maintaining a healthy pH in your tissues. I recommend potassium citrate. Taking 1000 mg per day with food will be very safe and beneficial. To date, as far as I can find, no toxic levels have been observed for orally ingested potassium.

So to all diabetics (and non-diabetics): Add these products to your regimen, and you will see an improvement in your health. These nutrients also promote healthier and more restful sleep patterns.

I also developed a supplement to help reduce the effects of sugar alcohol induced gastro-intestinal distress (SAIGID). This supplement also helps promote a healthier GI tract environment and function. Go here for more info and a free sample …

Colon Cleanses: The Blow by Blow

2006-07-24T14:09:00.000-04:00

Next in our list of gross-out, taboo topics: colon cleanses! I’ve received a few questions about them recently, so it’s time to set the record straight.

First, colon cleanses vary widely in their qualities, aggressiveness, impact, and effect. If the products are well formulated, made with premium quality ingredients, and done correctly, colon cleanses can be very therapeutic.

However, if the colon cleanses are made primarily of herbal laxatives, diuretics, and intestinal stimulants, then they produce only the illusion of a cleansing effect—NOT the actual healing and restorative benefits.

People become strong candidates for colon cleanses when they replace a healthy diet of fiber, nutrients, and plenty of water with foods packaged by man, rather than by nature. In other words, people often end up consuming too many refined and processed foods--and those are frequently eaten too fast, or on the run.

Chronic deficiencies in those nutrients, accompanied by chronic digestive distress, can alter bowel ecology, and lead to some real 'contamination' problems. Also keep in mind that about 80 percent of your immune system tissue is in your GI tract. Since the quality of tissue structure determines the quality of tissue function, you want to make sure your system is in tip-top shape.

That’s why a 'blow out' alone won’t give your GI tract what it needs to function better. Instead, a colon cleanse of any kind should be part of a more complete process for GI tract correction. My advice: eat healthier foods, take quality multivitamins, and add supplements that promote improved digestive health.

'Frankfarters'--I Mean, Organic Hot Dogs

2006-07-21T12:06:00.000-04:00

That’s the question on everyone’s lips this summer as they search for a not-so-questionable alternative to the traditional hot dog. Long the staple of baseball games, summer barbecues, and families with finicky children, these tubes of meat scraps (usually eaten with blind faith) are now involved in the organic revolution.

Just what makes these American favorites healthier? For starters, most organic hot dog brands are made of beef from cattle raised entirely on grass (pasture), instead of grain. Not only is the meat leaner, but it also delivers a higher helping of omega-3 fatty acids, famous for their abundance in fish like salmon.

The curing process has also been improved. Instead of relying on sodium nitrates or sodium nitrites, hot dog manufacturers are achieving the same color, texture, and shelf life of standard dogs with a natural mix of celery juice, lactic acid, and sea salt.

The result: a hot dog that’s pretty doggone close to our beloved sticks of mystery meat.

Now, does this mean you can introduce hot dogs into every meal? Not at all. Meat certainly is an important part of a balanced diet, but you want to make sure you’re ingesting lean, high-quality, unprocessed cuts. (Just try finding “hot dog” on a butcher’s chart.)

Still, since I know I can’t erase hot dogs entirely from the Standard American Diet with one post, I’ll just say this: If you have a choice between an over-processed, refined product, and an all-natural, minimally processed one, go for the latter.

The healthier the source of your food, the stronger your GI tract—and your body—will feel. That way, you’ll be in great shape for all summer barbecues yet to come.

Why You SHOULD Take Candy From a Baby

2006-07-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

It may not be nice, but it is necessary.

About 16 percent of kids and adolescents (age 6 to 19) in the United States are overweight—a number that has been steadily increasing since the 70s.

Today childhood obesity is an epidemic, and its effects are severe. Childhood obesity dramatically increases the likelihood that the child will be overweight or obese as an adult, and reduces the child’s life expectancy by as much as five years.

Obesity also brings with it a slew of other health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, hypertension, osteoporosis, and some cancers,

To combat childhood obesity, some school districts are participating in the National School Lunch Program, which provides healthy, balanced lunches to public and private schools at a reduced cost or for free.

Participating schools must develop a ‘wellness policy’ by the upcoming school year. The San Lorenzo Valley school district in California is already developing its policy, which offers healthy, balanced lunches, more physical activity, and more education on health and wellness.

If your school district is involved in the program, great! If not, get in touch with your child’s principal or the school PTA to encourage similar policy adoption.

And don’t forget about the importance of home education. Teach your children to eat healthy foods in proper proportions. Encourage them to play outside instead of spending hours in front of the TV.

Let’s get with it, and get our kids healthy NOW. Time’s a wastin’!

Do You Want Sugar and Cream With That Gas?

2006-07-17T12:06:00.000-04:00

The best part of waking up, is grooooooaaaannn—gas in your intestines? It may be, if you’re a java-loving junkie—and a lot of Americans are. Indeed, coffee is one of America’s favorite drinks.

Still, it’s no secret that coffee has taken the blame for problems ranging from stomach upset, gas, heartburn, and jitters, to cardiovascular disease and pancreatic cancer. But recent press asserts that coffee is good for you. So what’s the rub?

High-quality coffee offers some health benefits. Poor-quality coffee has some significant consequences. First the bad news. The reason that many coffees (those of poor quality) have that bitter, charcoal-like taste is because they’re burned during the mass production process.

When coffee beans are burned, the ‘aromatic oils’ are oxidized, which cancels out the healthful, cancer-fighting antioxidants. The result: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They damage cell membranes, cause cancer, and contribute to digestive upset.

But don’t dump that cup of joe just yet. Good quality coffee is slow-roasted, so the beans don’t burn. This in turn prevents oxidation of the wonderful fatty acids, and preserves the antioxidants.

Other health benefits of coffee that studies have recently found include lowered risk of diabetes, liver cancer, colon cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. But what about caffeine?

Caffeine is really only harmful to people who already are in poor health. It overburdens their systems and causes various health problems, including heart disease, insomnia, chronic muscle tension, and nervousness.

If you’re in good health, and lead an active and healthy lifestyle, the amount of caffeine in a couple of cups of coffee shouldn’t cause your health to crumble anytime soon.

The upshot: If you’re in good health, it’s OK to drink high-quality coffee. If your health is in a funk, refrain from drinking any coffee, good or bad, but more importantly, read some more of my posts about eating healthy, probiotic foods.

News Flash: Americans Fat AND Stupid

2006-07-13T16:23:00.000-04:00

Further evidence that all of America needs to read the Trafon blog: A recent American Cancer Society nationwide survey discovered that only eight percent of the American public understands the proven scientific link between obesity and cancer.

That’s pretty sobering news, especially when you consider the Society’s prediction that one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States in 2006 will be attributable to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and being overweight or obese.

To counteract this dangerous trend, the Society has launched The Great American Eat Right Challenge to build awareness about the connection, provide practical advice for maintaining a healthy weight, and reduce cancer risk. But I think they can take it further, and make an even bigger improvement in reducing obesity rates.

Before dramatic advances in agricultural science, agribusiness, and the advent of refined processed foods, cancer was an insignificant fraction of what it is today. The nutrient-deficient, calorie-rich foods we now produce and eat play a major role in overburdening, eroding, and contaminating our GI tracts.

They also have fostered a near epidemic increase in all chronic degenerative diseases. That’s why we must ask ourselves, “What does healthy, ‘normal’ GI tract function look like?” I can tell you what it DOESN’T look like. It’s not bloating, heartburn, reflux, or gas after every meal.

It isn’t constant flatulence or painful abdominal cramping. It isn’t moving your bowels once every few days, or multiple loose stools every day. Even worse, when left untreated or unattended, these symptoms precede and contribute to the development of much more serious conditions--such as cancer.

As any adult knows, the search for pleasure at the expense of more responsible behavior usually has consequences. Food indulgence is no different, be it chocolate cake after every meal, or fast food for breakfast.

I believe it is difficult to be truly happy if you are constantly suffering with health-related issues. That’s why I hope people across the country participate in the Great American Eat Right Challenge, officially or not. Doing so will help them take charge of their life, and make healthy choices that keep them happy.

Deluded Dieters = Diluted Diets

2006-07-11T15:08:00.000-04:00

How many times have you played out a scene like this in a restaurant?

Sure, you’re yukking it up now, but people go to incredible lengths to bend nutritional rules to fit their lifestyles, and convince themselves they follow healthy habits.

The truth is, they’re bludgeoning their GI tracts to death (literally). Besides, if nutritional guidelines don’t “fit” your life, neither will your pants.

Pass On The Salt--And The Soda

2006-07-10T14:03:00.000-04:00

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently met in Chicago for the 2006 AMA Annual Meeting, held June 10-14. There they considered a fresh round of health policy proposals. This year’s hot nutritional topic: Americans’ unhealthy eating habits, with a special focus on excessive salt and soda consumption.

AMA highlighted research that shows most Americans consume two to three times the recommended healthy amount of sodium. An estimated 75 to 80 percent of that daily intake comes from processed and restaurant foods.

In response, the AMA recommended policy changes that include urging the Food and Drug Administration to regulate sodium limits in processed and restaurant foods; and reduce the amount of sodium in processed foods, fast food products, and restaurant meals by a minimum of 50 percent over the next decade.

The group also considered a soda tax proposal—a “fat tax”—that would impose a penalty on sugar-sweeted soft drinks, to help curb consumption, and raise revenue for anti-obesity programs. (The proposal didn't pass.)

These changes don’t need to be 'official' for you to make adjustments in your own lifestyle. Limit your intake of processed and restaurant food to reduce sodium levels. Stock your fridge with fresh, raw, unprocessed, and organic food, and cook at home more often.

And for all you pop junkies out there, here’s a refresher course on how to kick the soda habit. Stick to this healthy lifestyle, and you’ll be in better shape before the 2007 AMA Annual Meeting even begins.

GI Health is a Battlefield

2006-07-07T10:35:00.000-04:00

Veterans' battles are hardly over once they're out of a war zone. Many continue to struggle on the homefront with obesity, diabetes, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, food addiction, stress, depression, obsessive behavior, and chronic pain.

In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports more than 70 percent of the 7.5 million veterans receiving its health benefits are overweight. Some 20 percent have diabetes, which can lead to blindness, amputations, kidney failure, and cardio-vascular problems.

To combat this trend, the VA enacted MOVE, a national peer-to-peer program that teaches vets how to plan meals and read food labels, and gives them a personalized exercise program designed to work around combat injuries or physical limitations.

Considering the severity of the challenges many vets face, problems like flatulence, heartburn, loose stools, or constipation seem to pale by comparison. Plus, most of the information on these conditions makes them appear unrelated to other physical or mental health issues.

However, there's a strong brain/gut connection that impacts overall quality of life. Sure, many health issues stem from the widely consumed, over-refined, and detrimental standard American diet. And some people are predisposed to particular conditions through certain genetic traits.

But none of this negates the fact that physical health begets mental health, and vice versa. It's almost foolhardy to try and correct severe issues without first promoting bodily health. This requires special attention to the efficiency and effectiveness of how we extract nutrients from foods we eat, and how we dispose of the waste in short, the health of our GI tracts.

That's why the MOVE program is spot-on. It approaches health holistically for suffering veterans. In fixing the body first, they increase their chances of healing the spirit too.

Remember, the quality of your health is a direct result of the quality of the nutritional resources used to support your health. Indeed, optimal health is manufactured; it doesn't, and can't just happen spontaneously.

With that in mind, start implementing small changes in your own lifestyle. Include wholesome, organic, unrefined foods and pure water in your diet. Exercise regularly. Take premium quality dietary supplements, including products that promote digestive health. Make sure to get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

And most importantly, think happy thoughts. Then victory will be yours.

No. 1 Hamburger Recipe for Avoiding No. 2 Disasters

2006-07-03T14:21:00.000-04:00

Here’s another meaty recipe sure to wow your guests at your 4^th of July picnic tomorrow -- without overstressing their GI tract. (And if by chance the family is smuggling bits of these healthy burgers to your dog underneath the table, the sneaky snacks won't come back to haunt you later ... )

You’ll see I combined some unconventional ingredients. Many homemade burger recipes use bread crumbs or cracker meal/crumbs to hold moisture and maintain a juicy plumpness to the burgers. I like to use oatmeal instead, which results in a powerhouse, “wowful,” wonderful-goot (as they say in Lancaster, Pa.) burger.

Note: Remember to thoroughly and intensely rub all dried herbs into the palm of your hand (a.k.a. irritate them) before adding to the food. This process releases valuable oils, and makes the flavor explode.

And let me warn you now: Eating these burgers induces a state of blissful euphoria way up high on the yummy scale. Even better, they’re packed with extra fiber-y goodness to keep your GI tract clean and clear.

Ingredients

Phase 1:

* ½ cup McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal (in a can). Do NOT use rolled oats or instant oatmeal for this recipe. This should make about 2 to 2½ cups of oatmeal. You’ll use about 1½ cups.

* 2 cups organic beef stock. Make sure to maintain a 1 to 4 ratio of oatmeal to stock.

* ½ large yellow onion, minced

* 3 tablespoons organic butter. Do NOT use margarine.

* 1 level teaspoon granulated (not fine) onion powder

* ½ teaspoon salt. I prefer unrefined rock salt or sea salt

* Generous amount of freshly ground black peppercorns—maybe ½ teaspoon or more

Phase 2:

* 3 eggs. Free-range organic eggs are preferred, but antibiotic-free eggs are OK, too.

* 2 teaspoons Borsari Seasoned Salt (The World’s Best) Black Label.

* 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning

* 1 scant level teaspoon whole summer savory leaf

* 1 level teaspoon of onion powder

* 1 tablespoon premium quality organic ketchup. I like Muir Glen Organic Ketchup, which is thick and really yummy, but any good ketchup will do.

* 2 teaspoons liquid smoke

* 2 pounds all-natural, free-range, organic 90% lean ground beef

* About 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

The Process

Phase 1:

It is best to prepare this mixture the day or night before, and refrigerate.

Bring the beef stock to a boil. Add the oatmeal, stirring frequently. Boil for about 10 minutes until the oatmeal begins to thicken significantly. Reduce heat to a medium simmer, and cook for another 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

The oatmeal should become very thick, almost like mashed potatoes. (Don’t worry if it sticks to the bottom of the pot. It will easily release after being allowed to set.). If the oatmeal appears soupy, continue to cook and stir until the desired thickness is achieved. Turn off the heat, and let it set for at least 20 minutes.

In the meantime, sauté the onions in bubbling butter over medium/high heat, until they start browning. Add the salt, pepper, and onion powder. To speed up the softening of the onions, you can add about an ounce of water to the skillet, and stir well. When the liquid is evaporated (in about a minute), stir the onions until medium brown. Add onions and all of the butter in the skillet to the oatmeal, and stir very well. Allow the oatmeal mixture to finish cooling and setting.

Note: When made with chicken stock, this oatmeal recipe (double the oatmeal and chicken stock amounts) makes a wonderful thick porridge for breakfast as a bed for a couple of over-medium eggs and some organic bacon. It’s what breakfast should taste like!

Sorry, I digress … back to the recipe …

Phase 2:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 3 eggs completely. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the ground beef, and mix completely. (Don’t forget to irritate the herbs). When thoroughly mixed, add the burger meat, and mix thoroughly (by hand is best). Microwave about 1 to 1 ½ cups of the oatmeal for about 30 seconds to warm it for incorporating into the meat mixture. Add it to the ground beef mixture. Blend thoroughly. Form the burger patties by hand. Tip: Wet your fingers with a little bit of oil to prevent them from sticking to your hand.

Grill the burgers over medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Then, turning them about every 2 minutes, grill for another 5 or 6 minutes. You can lower the heat and turn another time or two if you like the burgers well done.

Serve on whole wheat buns with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and other tasty garden veggies. Extra tip: To skip the bread entirely, put the burger between two leaves of bib lettuce. Use low-fat cheese if you’re in the mood for a cheeseburger.

Then pull up a chair, tuck in your bib, and put a seat belt on … these are re-e-e-a-l good!

One final note: The oatmeal, unlike the bread crumbs or cracker meal, is loaded with fiber, moisture, and great beta-glucans that have been shown to be terrific for your health, and especially for your GI Tract. As always, try not to overeat, but if you do, at least these yummy burgers have more good stuff in them for you than conventional burgers do.

And in case you still eat a bit too much and need some help, get a free sample of my novel digestive technology for FREE (shipping and handling are FREE too). Take two capsules with your meal to promote healthy digestive function, and, in most cases, minimize the digestive burden caused by over-consumption of food.

Ribs That Save Your BBQ from SBDs

2006-07-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

Our nation's birthday is coming up tomorrow, and chances are you're prepping a traditional American BBQ with all the fixins -- potato salad, cole slaw, watermelon, ice cream, and of course, meat.

And not just any meat. We're talking the juiciest, tastiest, fattiest meats you can find. With ribs, hot dogs, and hamburgers stacked high on every picnic table, it's highly likely that stomachs are firing up as much as grills.

Here's where you'll argue that meat is an essential part of our diet, and I won't dispute you. After all, protein is a critical building block for our body. In fact, a 3 oz. serving of lean beef gives you 51 percent of your daily recommended protein intake. So why all the tummy trouble then?

The answer's in the molecules. Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans have large protein molecules that require more work from your digestive enzymes to break down and distribute around your body. That's why it takes a while to get protein through your system --- and why it distresses weaker GI tracts in the process.

So this 4th of July, I've decided to share some recipes with you that make sure one Independence Day dinner won't carry over in your tummy until next year's Independence Day.

First, some background: I was raised around good cooking and great food. Way back in the day, my mother—one of the world’s truly great cooks—taught home economics, which at that time primarily consisted of cooking. I was always fascinated with how she made food taste so good.

Then, many years ago, when I was a young whippersnapper, I served a two year chef apprenticeship. Some years later I was the chef in my own restaurant. So I am not a foreigner to eating or cooking all kinds of foods, from haute cuisine to backyard grilling.

That's why when I tell you these are the best ribs I’ve ever eaten, you know I mean it!

And of all the foods I make, my ribs and burgers always get rave reviews, not only for their taste, but for how easily most people can digest them without issuing SBDs (silent-but-deadlys) later in the day. So, I'm posting them here for you to enjoy too.

One secret to success: Get your ingredients from grocery stores such as Whole Foods or Wegman’s that offer a wide selection of all-natural, quality organic food.

This recipe is based on two packs of ribs about 1½ pounds each. Also, I usually “feel” my seasonings, rather than measure them, so adjust the seasonings to your own preferences. Remember, if you make more ribs, also adjust the seasonings a bit, but not in total proportion to the increase in ribs. While I suggest erring on the side of caution, by all means, make them as spicy as you’d like!

Ingredients

* 2 packs all-natural baby back ribs (about 1½ lbs. each)

* 2 teaspoons Borsari’s Seasoned Salt

* 1 teaspoon Whole Foods’ Caribbean Barbecue Seasoning

* 1 teaspoon Whole Foods’ Herbes de Provence (but any similar brand works well too).

* 1 bottle Jack Daniels Original No. 7 Barbeque Sauce.(Lea & Perrins Barbeque Sauce is a good substitute, if you can’t find the Jack D).

* Heavy duty tin foil to wrap each rack separately

Prepare the day before grilling for best results. Lay each rib rack on a sheet of tinfoil large enough to completely & tightly seal the rib when closed. Season each side of the ribs with their portion of the 3 herb seasonings (not the BBQ sauce). Make sure to intensely rub the herbs in your palm (irritate) before sprinkling on the ribs. Then rub all of the seasonings into the rib meat. Wrap the tinfoil like an envelope and tightly roll and seal all edges. Place in the refrigerator overnight until about 3 hours before serving.

3 hours before serving, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Once it’s preheated, place the sealed foil packs of ribs in a roasting pan on the lowest rack in the oven and roast for 75 minutes. Then turn the heat off, and let the ribs sit in the cooling oven for another 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for another 10 minutes on the counter or other heat protected surface, until you can easily open the foil without getting burned. Carefully remove the ribs to a plate. Pour the drippings into a bowl, and allow the fat to rise and separate. Skim the fat using a spoon. You can soak a bit more fat by gently laying a paper towel on the surface of the fat.

Pour about one-half to one-third (or desired amount) of barbeque sauce into the remaining drippings, and mix well.

Preheat the grill to about medium heat. Baste a generous amount of the barbeque sauce on one side of the ribs and place basted side down on the grilling rack. Then baste the other side. Close the lid, and allow grilling for about 5 minutes. Then open the grill, turn the ribs over, close the lid, and allow grilling for another 5 minutes. (If you don’t have a lid, extend the grill time about 3 minutes.) Baste with more barbeque sauce and turn over for another 1-2 minutes on each side. For a bit sloppier (but extremely yummy) dining experience, you can brush a bit more of the barbeque sauce on the ribs just prior to serving. The ribs should now be done and totally scrumptious.

One final note: Ribs have a significant amount of fat on them, which is why they taste so good! However, burnt fat is dangerous to your health. Fat is more unstable than protein, and oxidizes much more easily. The grilling process, therefore, really kicks up the cancer-causing molecules, known as polycyclic (or polynuclear) aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These molecules damage cell membranes, and cause all kinds of oxidative damage that can lead to cancer, among other disorders.

So I use the pre-roasting method of preparing grilled ribs to minimize the grill time, and thus reduce the amount of burning/charring that the ribs get on the grill. It’s also a smart way to get the intense, deep, rich flavor of the ribs along with the wonderful grilled barbeque flavor while avoiding the detrimental effects of grilling it raw.

(By the way, later this afternoon I'll be doing an interview on ABC TV in Philadelphia (WPVI channel 6) where I'll be talking about the effects of standard holiday foods on the digestive system, and how to reduce their negative effects. Plus, I'll be sharing these recipes, so tune in for more info!)

Burn Fat, Not Your Throat

2006-06-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

If your throat is feeling “hot, hot, hot” lately from chronic acid reflux, tell the triple-layer double fudge cake to sit this one out.

While there’s been evidence for years that obesity can cause acid reflux, a new study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that even minor weight gain can increase your chance of acid reflux, or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

The study found that a 5-foot 2-inch woman weighing in at the heavier end of the normal weight range for her height had a 38 percent greater chance of acid reflux than a woman weighing in at the lighter end of the normal weight range.

But there is some good news. The risk of acid reflux is significantly reduced with weight loss—even as much as 40 percent in one instance, the study found.

The lesson: Eat a balanced, probiotic diet that will burn fat—and not your throat.

If you have diabetes and acid reflux, it can be especially hard to find the right kind of foods to eat. My recommendations: Eat smaller, more frequent meals; avoid too much fried food, caffeine, and alcohol; and don’t smoke!

If you experience acid reflux occasionally, such as after a large or spicy meal, no need to worry. But if your acid reflux occurs regularly, it may be a sign of the more serious GERD, and you should see a doctor.

Above all, find a more intimate relationship with nature, keep your weight down, and your body will thank you from the bottom of your … er … derriere.

Who Farts More: Men or Women?

2006-06-09T16:29:00.000-04:00

Lately I’ve been appearing as the guest ‘fart doctor’ on talk radio shows around the country. Here’s a gas-a-rific question I got from the fellas over at Waking Up with the Wolf on WPYX-FM: “Why do men fart more than women?”

This question rips loose a load of noxious answers, but the truth is men and women expel the same amount of gas. Human is human. Gas is gas. And by the way, it all stinks.

Contrary to another popular belief (or maybe just what a woman will tell you), women’s farts do not smell like roses, rainbows, kittens, lollipops, butterflies, cotton candy, or Grandma’s home-baked apple pie.

New Genome Research Goes for the Gut

2006-06-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

It’s a jungle out there—or rather, in there, according to the scientists at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR). Their study, published today in Science, is the first to define the collective genome of the human gut (our colon), which comprises 100 trillion microbes.

That staggering figure makes your gut a ‘microbiome’—essentially, a complete ecosystem that codes for the important enzymes you need to digest most of what you eat, including vitamins, sugars, and fiber (Trafon blog favorites!).

With so many parts working at once, these busy little microbes form a direct link to health and disease. The presence—or more notably, the absence—of beneficial microbes can cause metabolic shifts, and trigger diseases such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, even cancer.

Here’s where I found particular vindication in the study: The researchers eventually plan to study the microbial difference between healthy people and those with GI conditions, including a comparison of their diets.

How would your colon compare in such a study? If you’re eating a nutrient-rich, fiber-packed diet, getting plenty of exercise, reducing dependence on OTC medications, and taking the appropriate supplements, you’d probably do well.

Agita over the ADA

2006-05-29T16:03:00.000-04:00

The blog ‘Disability Law’ has a VERY interesting post dubbed Gastrointestinal Disorders and the ADA. Every reader of this blog should read it.

It abstracts a recent article by Lawrence D. Rosenthal, titled Can't Stomach the Americans with Disabilities Act? How the Federal Courts Have Gutted Disability Discrimination Legislation in Cases Involving Individuals with Gastrointestinal Disorders and Other Hidden Illnesses.

It’s sad and true: People suffering from “hidden” GI-related illnesses such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease face an uphill battle when attempting to pursue disability-based discrimination claims under current ADA regulations.

So what makes a person sick enough to qualify? Though their ailments are not as apparent as deafness, blindness, or dismemberment, people with gastrointestinal disorders experience significant pain and distress, with symptoms including frequent fevers, bloody diarrhea, nausea, severe abdominal cramps, anemia, fatigue, loss of body fluids, and nutrient depletion.

As a result, people with GI disorders often require special treatments and accommodations to help make their days more comfortable and productive—or at the very least, less painful.

And the need for these special requirements can lead to job discrimination. Hence the need for protection under the ADA—which, apparently, the Courts are not supporting, based on the abstract of Mr. Rosenthal’s article.

I’m a nutritional biologist, not a lawyer, so I can’t speak to the legal ramifications of this debate. But I can say that GI disorders, when left untreated, can develop into serious medical conditions that not only affect a person’s daily routine, but significantly decrease their quality of life, and require special accommodations.

Losing your job, or being discriminated on the job, simply because you’re suffering with a GI condition, strikes me as un-American. A disability is a disability, and aren’t we all entitled to equal protection under the law—including disability law?

Cause of Death: FARTING!

2006-05-22T14:47:00.000-04:00

I’ve been on a talk radio tour over the past few weeks, sharing diet and digestion insight to enraptured gassy listeners around the country.

Among all the (gas) burning questions I fielded, Dr. Ken Kronhaus, the host of ‘Heart Talk Live’ on WBZT-AM, asked me something particularly explosive: Has anyone ever died from farting?

The answer is probably yes—not from the flatulence itself, but from the complications, er, behind it.

IBS; GERD; Crohn’s disease; ulcers; strictures (narrowing) of the esophagus; cancer of the esophagus, colon, and stomach; and diabetes are all digestive complications that produce excessive gas and bloating.

Each and every one of these diseases and conditions can lead to potentially fatal complications. But the good news is all of these diseases and conditions can be treated if caught early enough.

Almost everyone has a digestive problem at some point in his or her life. If you haven’t farted, you haven’t lived! If you experience occasional farting, bloating, constipation, the runs, have no fear. This is normal.

But if you experience any of these symptoms in excess, or with bleeding or extreme discomfort, see your doctor right away. Because death can be a gas.

In addition to seeing your doctor, check out some of my previous posts on how to change your diet to cut down on cutting the cheese.

Organics Fight GI Cancer

2006-05-11T15:12:00.000-04:00

The optimal way to treat a disease is to cut it off at the pass. And a recent journal article in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (everyone’s favorite light bathroom reading) discusses just that: chemoprevention in gastrointestinal cancers.

Chemoprevention is a fancy way of saying, “Let’s get it before it gets us.” This relatively new field seeks to identify natural or synthetic substances that reduce the risk of developing cancer.

This particular study showed that Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (a-k-a NSAIDS), and calcium demonstrated the most significant reductions of risk for colorectal neoplasia.

NSAIDs also consistently appeared to protect against esophageal and gastric cancer, according to study lead Maria V. Grau and her colleagues at Dartmouth Medical School. Grau also cited vitamin D as a promising intervention agent, among others.

This is evidence that simple supplements, coupled with healthy eating, can decrease your risk of GI-related cancers. Now, I’m not an advocate of over-the-counter self-medications. But acetylsalicylic acid, sold since 1899 under the Bayer trademark of ‘Aspirin’—has organic origins.

It was first used as a bitter powder extracted from willow bark and, later, other plants. Bayer developed a chemical process that made the powder’s active ingredient—salicin—tolerable to the stomach.

And certainly calcium and vitamin D aren’t high-falutin’ pharmaceuticals. Rather, they’re organic compounds found in balanced diets, natural supplements, and—if you’re following the advice on this blog—in your refrigerator.

Certainly even the healthiest diet is not a guarantee against GI cancers. But if this study is to be believed, a healthy diet coupled with judicious use of nutritional supplements can make a difference, and better your odds.

Farting: The Documentary

2006-05-10T17:24:00.000-04:00

Here's hard evidence that uncontrollable farting can be bad for your health.

POP Goes the Soda

2006-05-08T17:37:00.000-04:00

Uh-oh! The major soft drink companies have agreed to stop selling their sugar-laden, empty-calorie-packed beverages to public schools.

It’s well known that soda causes gas. After all, all those little bubbles have to go somewhere.

But the soda ban deserves three hearty toots for a reason that isn’t just a load of air: The ban is a long-overdue step in the right direction to filter unhealthy foods out of our diet.

One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 milligrams of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites.

Besides excess gas, drinking too much soda causes other detrimental side effects. Soft drinks contain more than 100 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of sugar.

High sugar consumption is linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and tooth decay. All that sugar racks up the calories and packs on the pounds.

And caffeine causes a mess of problems, including dehydration, stomach aches, headaches, sluggishness, jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.

Aspartame, which is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda, is linked to dozens of dangerous side effects, including diabetes, brain tumors, and birth defects.

And then there are the sugar alcohols, which are also used to sweeten sugar-free sodas and other drinks. These are a huge cause of uncontrollable gas (see my recent detailed post on this topic).

And most sodas contain phosphoric acid as well. Phosphoric acid has been shown to interfere with calcium absorption, which can weaken bones over time.

So if you’re a soda junkie, here are two ways to fizzle the habit:

(1) Try mixing orange juice (or another fruit juice) with club soda. This will satisfy your sweet tooth, and provide a good vitamin C boost. Cut the club soda part until you’re drinking nothing but fruit juice.

(2) If it’s pure carbonation you crave, drink sparkling mineral water instead.

Encourage your kids to adopt these habits too.

Canary in a Coal Mine

2006-05-03T20:59:00.000-04:00

What is smaller than a cell phone … fitted with a crocodile clip for your pockets … and sensitive to noxious fumes? No, it’s not the Dog Gas Thong (good guess, though.)

Give up? It’s the new Draeger X-am 2000, an ergonomic, lightweight, and easy-to-use gas detector specially designed for ‘personal gas monitoring’.

As we head into summer—a season brimming with barbeques, where over-processed hamburger rolls will set people’s gluteus maximus buns ablaze—the Dreager X-am 200 will maintain its high level of sensitivity to combustible organic vapors, and will issue dependable warnings to you in the event of SBDs and other explosive hazards.

In short, it’s the perfect way to ward off your relatives’ stinky side effects from Aunt Bertha’s mayo-laden potato salad. So don’t delay; get your personal gas monitor today.

Fart-Free Beans: Closer Than You Think

2006-04-26T13:52:00.000-04:00

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. The ocean tides ebb and flow. Beans make you fart. These are highly dependable, indisputable natural occurrences … until now.

Venezuelan researchers have identified two bacteria strains, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, which reduce the GI distress—and subsequent flatulence—that afflicts bean lovers.

The researchers found that when they fermented black beans in the two bacteria, soluble fiber content decreased by more than 60 per cent, among other benefits. Better yet, the beans retained their full nutritional value after digestion was complete.

I know you regular readers are thinking, “But Bill! You always promote fiber on the blog!” Indeed I do, because fiber (soluble and insoluble) is incredibly important for proper GI function, and should be ingested regularly.

But soluble fiber is not broken down until it reaches the large intestine, where the digestive process tends to generate gas. Bacterial fermentation gives the intestines a leg-up, as it were, in breaking the fiber down, reducing gas without reducing nutrients.

Imagine the ‘bean’-eficial possibilities. People everywhere can enjoy the terrific health benefits of beans—fried, refried, baked, boiled, sautéed, or stewed—without the embarrassing, smelly side effects.

Indeed, beans are actually a superfood, encompassing essential nutrients, including low-fat protein, fiber, iron, and potassium. They’re also cheap and easy to prepare, and available in a wide array of size, flavors, and textures around the globe.

Beans can be a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle that will keep your GI tract running smoothly—if they didn’t cause so much GI distress.

If beans make YOU fart, and if you don’t feel like waiting for the Venezuelans to perfect their experimental fermented beans, try a free sample of something I recently perfected: a new natural, premium quality digestive supplement that might relieve or alleviate your farting or other GI discomfort.

Sued for Farting on TV

2006-04-24T14:00:00.000-04:00

Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart.

Everyone knows what’s happens next, even though some people might not like to admit it—especially the Dry Beans Producers Organization (DBPO).

The DBPO in Johannesburg, South Africa, recently made a stink over the negative way beans were portrayed in a TV commercial for Wildeklawer sweet onions.

The DBPO complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that the commercial, which showed a rugby player eating beans and fouling the air, portrayed beans in an unfavorable light, and disparaged the producers’ organization.

The ASA dismissed the DBPO’s case as a load of hot (and perhaps even smelly) air, saying it’s a factual reality that beans cause gas, and the commercial was only playing on a harmless parody.When the partially digested beans pass into the large intestine, the bacteria there finish breaking down them down—and create foul-smelling methane in the process.

Bottom line: No amount of legal wrangling can change the fact that beans cause gas. Beans are loaded with carbohydrates that are not completely broken down in the small intestine.

Other foods with large amounts of carbs produce the same malodorous effect. Sugars, starches, fibers; all are carb-loaded stink bombs.

Other offenders include vegetables, certain fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, soft drinks and fruit drinks, and of course, any sugar-free food.

The easiest way to reduce your output of gas is to cut your intake of gassy foods. However, natural foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk have health benefits, so don’t eliminate them from your diet entirely.

Compromise instead. Don’t munch out on gas bombs. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Limit your intake of high-fat foods to reduce bloating and discomfort. And eat slowly during meals to cut how much air you suck into your digestive tract.

Passing gas is a normal, healthy, necessary—and even fun! (ask any 7 year old)—part of a the digestive system’s operation. Indeed, most people fart 6 to 20 times a day.

Excessive or painful gas, on the other hand, might be a symptom of a more serious disorder, like IBS or Crohn’s Disease. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing such symptoms.

And no matter what, bend over with care after eating a hearty helping of bean soup.

A Dog Fart's Best Friend

2006-04-10T13:45:00.000-04:00

What’s good enough for humans is, apparently, good enough for their dogs. In fact, given the odious reputation of dog farts, what’s good for dogs might be even better for their owners.

I’ve reported (here and here) about research into charcoal-activated underwear that captures and cuts odor. Now owners of flatulent dogs (which means all dogs) can take advantage of this technology, thanks to the Dog Gas Neutralizing Pad. It’s a washable charcoal thong that eliminates odors, and makes life bearable again for pet-lovers everywhere, according to its manufacturer.

Of course, there are natural ways to curb Fido’s farts. But if all else fails, you can always fall back on the ‘boxer’ briefs.

A New Gas Mask for GIs

2006-04-06T13:18:00.000-04:00

No, not military GIs. I am referring to gastrointestinal warriors. See this video for a new take on how to mask your uncontrollable gas.

And while the product in the video appears to be a premium quality solution, once again, it only masks the symptoms, and doesn't treat the root causes.

The Brain/Gut Axis of GI Evil

2006-03-30T15:52:00.000-05:00

Every generation has a famous celebrity pair: Laurel and Hardy. Sonny and Cher. Beavis and Butt-head.

Butt-head? Turns out that’s not just a goofy TV character name or schoolyard insult. It’s a true mind/body connection.

Your brain and gut work together, in lock step, to run your GI tract. When you regularly eat nutrient-deficient processed foods—as most Americans do daily—you foul up your intestinal ecology, and promote growth of undesirable bacteria.

Meanwhile, neurotransmitters (electro-chemical signaling agents) in your brain start working overtime to handle the resulting GI symptoms, such as flatulence and bloating.

And eating poorly causes trouble beyond GI distress. It also strains your brain, as it works overtime in a vain effort to heal you.

This is one reason why emotionally unstable or over-reactive people (‘head cases’) tend to have digestive disorders such as ‘nervous stomach’, excessive gas, and diarrhea. Interesting connection, isn’t it?

Eat right (unprocessed organic foods, and high-quality supplements). Exercise a little every day. Find time to relax.

That’s the secret to training your brain/GI connection for health. In short order, you’ll know in your gut that you’re truly feeling great.

'Fartastic' Academic Study

2006-03-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

The results of this recent university research are sure to produce an explosive outcome.

(If you don't have PowerPoint, download Microsoft's free PowerPoint viewer to access the research presentation.)

Hanging Gas Problems Out to Dry

2006-03-22T17:35:00.000-05:00

Here’s another product to de-gasify your world—and it’s machine-washable! Buck Weimer, a retired psychologist, invented gas-proof underwear for his wife Arlene.

She suffers from Crohn’s Disease, and all its uncomfortable symptoms, including intestinal inflammation, symptoms of diarrhea, and—most disturbing for Buck—foul-smelling gas.

His gas-control technology not only worked, but it went on to receive the IgNobel Prize for Biology. Better yet, the gas-eating undergarment was a smash among Arlene’s bowel disease support group. The happy couple now sell their ‘Under-ease’ anti-flatulence underwear online.

Gas-proof underwear might help reduce unpleasant odors, but it doesn’t eliminate the gas. What’s the one way to eases the gas attack? Everyone say this with me: “Proper nutrition.”

Anyone suffering from Crohn’s Disease needs to understand the Catch-22 the disease creates in your digestive tract. Common symptoms include diminished appetite and frequent diarrhea, both of which limit and prevent absorption of essential nutrients and fluids.

That means your body is not taking in the vitamins, minerals, and water it desperately needs to fuel its fight against the disease. To make matters worse, these nutrient deficiencies further damage your GI tract, and increase the severity of Crohn’s.

Forget about taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication to ease your symptoms. They don’t treat the condition, but rather, simply mask the symptoms—which can actually aggravate your system, and cause even greater discomfort.

A better approach: eat healthy, unprocessed foods from all the food groups to best manage the disorder, and restore the maximum digestive function possible. This means fruits, vegetables, fiber, lean meat, and low-fat dairy products.

Instead of popping OTC medications, add high-quality, organic probiotic supplements to your diet, and gradually build a little exercise into your routine.

Fart-proof underpants are a great way to neutralize the gas, but only proper nutrition and exercise treat the root causes—and allow you to wear your Superman or Elmo undies instead.

Sugar Alcohols: In One End, Out the Other

2006-03-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

When it comes to passing gas, diabetics take the cake—which is exactly why they are so gassy in the first place.

Sugar alcohols—the secret sauce in sugar-free foods—are preferred by diabetics because they don’t cause a sudden increase in blood sugar level.

The CDC says the number of diabetics has more than doubled in the U.S. in the past 15 years. That, coupled with dieters trying to cut carbs, are two reasons sales of sugar-free foods sweetened by sugar alcohols are skyrocketing.

But sugar alcohols aren’t a silver bullet for dieters and diabetics. They can cause gastric distress and a laxative effect. And they can even increase blood sugar level when over-consumed.

Sugar alcohols pull water into the intestinal tissues, which promotes the laxative effect. For some people, that may just be loose stools. For others, it can cause a sudden urge to defecate—now. For still others, it can lead to gas.

The effect can be particularly strong for people who regularly abuse their GI tract with the over-processed, under-nourishing standard American diet. This diet inflames GI tissue. Inflammation attracts water. Add sugar alcohols to the diet, and you’re pulling even more water into the system, compounding the condition.

This is why so many diabetics and dieters are uncontrollably gassy. They rarely—if ever—have any idea that the sugar-free foods they depend on to maintain their blood sugar level or weight are actually the reason people keep sending them Gassy Greeting Cards.

The problems caused by sugar alcohols can affect everyone. Sugar alcohols naturally occur in fruits and vegetables. And they’re also in a large number of sugar-free foods that are not necessarily aimed a dieters or diabetics, including candies, gums, desserts, prepared foods, cough drops, and salad dressings.

My recommendation: Eat food packaged by nature, not by man. It will have more fiber, more water, more enzymes, more electrolytes, more vitamins, and more nutrients—stuff that helps rebuild the body.

We are made of food, air, water, and sunshine. The quality of our health directly reflects the quality of the resources we consume. Focus on consuming the highest quality food, air, water, and sunshine, and you’ll be on your way to restoring healthy digestive function.

And that’s not sugar coated.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2006-03-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

It's this Friday, you know. Here's a special celebratory event for all my Trafon friends.

Kill Two G's with One Stone

2006-03-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

Say this ten times fast: “gastroesophageal reflux disease”.

I’ll cut you a break. Just say GERD.

GERD occurs when stomach acid or bile flows back into your body’s “food pipe”, causing irritation and inflammation of your esophagus lining.

As if this condition weren’t painful enough, other GI disorders often accompany it. The most common are (you guessed it) gas, flatulence, transit disorders, and abdominal distension.

Add irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia to the mix, and you’ve stirred up one unpleasant GI cocktail. Indeed, a recent French study reports GI disorders are three times more common in adult patients suffering with GERD, compared to the general population.

There is a ray of hope. About a third of the patients reported that treatment for GERD alleviated their other GI disorders, too—particularly dyspeptic-type symptoms.

The take away? If you suffer with GERD and other GI issues, ask your doctor about GERD treatment options. In the meantime, avoid self-prescribing over-the-counter medications, maintain a healthy diet, and increase your exercise levels to maximize your chances of feeling great.

Sport Drinks = Farts that Stink

2006-03-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

Today I drove to the YMCA and swam 20 laps. Does this make me an accomplished athlete? I’d love to think so. But even though I’m not gearing up for a gold medal, I have some crucial advice for professional and recreational athletes alike.

A recent study compared the effects of athletes drinking a carbohydrate-based sports drink versus mineral water during an 18 kilometer run. In what will likely be a surprise to many Americans, the sports drinks led to higher incidences of GI complaints.

Specifically, the sports drinks led to significantly more incidences of flatulence (gas) and acid reflux. Adding GI insult to injury, there were no indications that sports drinks improved athletic performance (sorry, soft drink makers!).

There goes my dream of a carb-induced 30 laps. And while the simple carbs used in sports drinks promote GI tract problems, the sugar alcohols used in sugar-free drinks typically consumed by athletes on a diet can cause a far higher incidence of severe gas, bloating, and laxation.

More on the sugar alcohol connection in future posts.

Family Fun Time

2006-03-06T14:39:00.000-05:00

Play this fart tutorial for anyone 10 and under, and you're guaranteed to get big laughs.

The Official Trafon T-shirt?

2006-03-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't this be great for the official Trafon T-shirt?

http://tinyurl.com/h3d5a

Fuzzy Math: Eat Less, Weigh More

2006-02-27T17:30:00.000-05:00

I’ve been stewing for weeks about the weight loss drug Orlistat. People are always looking to quick fixes, magic pills, and buying into weight loss myths in vain attempts to achieve their “ideal” figure.

One myth in particular really gets my goat: Eating less means you’ll lose more weight.

While portion control and moderation are necessary for all diets, that doesn’t mean you should eat less food than your body actually needs. The major contributor to obesity is not the amount of food we consume. It’s the quality; or rather, the lack thereof.

Most Americans have the idea that simply reducing over-processed and over-refined foods in their diets will solve all weight loss woes. They’re wrong. Eliminating our intake of low-quality foods is the key to long-term healthy weight loss.

If your body thinks it’s in jeopardy—for example, in the midst of a famine—it will automatically go into “store and save” mode, and not burn any fat.

That’s why any diet depravation technique (such as calorie reduction, fat blocking, starch blocking) ultimately does the body more harm than good, because they promote “rebound” fat storage.

Furthermore, the term “weight” isn’t even an appropriate measure of your body composition, since muscle is heavier than fat. Your muscle cells produce energy. The healthier they are, the better the body’s ability to receive nutrients and produce energy is.

Before your body will allow itself to lose fat, it must achieve the proper health, density, and weight of the energy producing muscle cells.

Further, while people usually lose water (and weight on the scale) when they start a diet, there is almost always a subsequent inevitable plateau—or even a weight gain—when the body attempts to improve muscle health and energy production efficiency.

Dieters then get discouraged, and cut their food intake even more. The result: a harsher rebound fat gain. Worse, while everyone re-deposits lost protein at about the same rate, fat people (notice I didn’t say “overweight”) redeposit fat at about three times the rate of their thinner counterparts.

Conversely, when the body is well-nourished with quality foods—fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, low-fat meats, low-fat dairy, etc.—it starts burning off fat.

It's Not Just People

2006-02-23T17:34:00.000-05:00

Animals suffer with uncontrollable gas, too. Watch and learn.

I am a Rock. I am a Multivitamin.

2006-02-21T17:18:00.000-05:00

I got a lot of e-mail from folks asking me why I said taking a multivitamin was like licking a rock, so I figured I better clear the air—which is what my site aims to do anyway.

I advocate natural health solutions, and I don’t change my tune with multivitamins. The most useful dietary supplements are made from more natural ‘body-friendly’ ingredients—those designed by nature to be eaten, unlike most of the lower quality ingredients that go into cheap multivitamin and mineral formulas.

For example, most dietary supplement companies use minerals from rocks, shells, or bones as the preferred source of minerals. While there may be a few exceptions to the rule, I think it is accurate to say that human beings were not designed to eat rocks, shells, and bones for their minerals.

One way to tell if a vitamin/mineral is body-friendly and organic: Natural ‘designed-to-be-eaten’ minerals are bigger molecules than their ‘not-for-food’ counterparts. In other words, calcium bound to citric acid (a.k.a. citrate) is a much larger molecule than calcium bound to another mineral (ion), like carbon or sulfur (a.k.a. calcium carbonate and sulfate respectively), which are loosely referred to as inorganic minerals.

For the body to use inorganic minerals, it must first separate the minerals (ionize) by breaking the bonds. With minerals that make up rocks, this process requires more acid and digestive work, which is why antacids contain minerals like calcium carbonate.

In general, minerals bound to proteins, organic acids, or various sugars are far easier for the body to ionize and use. Ever wonder how a vitamin half the size of a dime magically contains all the nutrients you need for the day? Well, stop wondering, because it doesn’t, because not all of the ingredients are usable.

Picture the following. You’re ready for dinner. On your plate sits a thick juicy steak; next to it, a stone from your garden. Both items contain 1000 milligrams of calcium. Should you save time and go with the rock?

No; of course not. In this case, good things DON’T come in small packages. Go with the steak. Its molecules are bigger, which are easier for your body to break apart, and separate the steak’s minerals from binding agents (in this case, amino acids).

Conversely, your body will find it much more difficult to disintegrate, dissolve, and extract minerals from the rock’s smaller more compact, tightly bound ions (ionic bonds) that produce the characteristic ‘hard-as-a-rock’ material.

The same thinking applies to multivitamins. When you’re investigating a brand, check out the pill size. If it’s large, read the label to see if it contains ingredients like botanicals, proteins, amino acids, or food concentrates. If it does, buy it, and you’ll be wisely spending on your health, instead of, well, licking a rock.

The Stinky Olympics

2006-02-21T16:59:00.000-05:00

And here, for your listening pleasure, are the top 10 farts of all time ...

http://l.flowgo.com/redir.cfm/31078/277940/28332/47426281

Love is in the Air

2006-02-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

Here's the proof.

Diabetics: Waiting to Inhale

2006-02-08T16:41:00.000-05:00

The FDA recently approved the first inhalable version of insulin, giving many adult diabetics relief from regular insulin injections.

It’s great that the pharmaceutical industry has developed a painless, bloodless, easy way to deliver insulin. My concern: we need to focus much more attention on improving insulin metabolism once it’s in the body.

Now this topic might not appear to have much to do with digestion. But diabetics must eat sugar-free foods, which are sweetened by sugar alcohols—substances known to cause loose stools and digestive distress in a large portion of the diabetic population.

Improving insulin function along with digestive function could help reduce the requirement to eat only sugar-free foods, and thereby reduce the negative impact on the GI tract.

Let’s examine the two primary diabetes types:

Type 1, also called juvenile diabetes, occurs in childhood due to a genetic error with insulin producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body doesn’t make its own insulin, and requires it from an outside source. Inhalable insulin will not eliminate needles for people with Type 1, because they require longer-acting injections to control the disease.

Type 2, which is manageable by inhalable insulin, is adult on-set insulin resistant diabetes mellitus. Here the body loses its ability to properly utilize the insulin it produces. It’s essentially an insulin resistance. This malfunction is also linked to other disorders, including hypertension, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease.

Regardless of the type being treated, the body still requires nutrients for insulin to function well once it’s in the system. Proper nutrients reduce insulin resistance by helping insulin bind to insulin receptors which, in turn, deliver life-sustaining glucose to cells.

To maximize medicines’ effects and improve insulin function, eat a nutrient-rich diet of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. Get at least eight hours of sleep per night. And incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine.

Appropriate nutritional supplements can also help. For diabetics, I recommend finding a good source of biologically active niacin-bound chromium. (Most chromium sources are not beneficial.) Insulin resistance is almost always characterized by a chromium deficiency, and replacing chromium promotes better insulin function.

If you’re diabetic, ask your doctor if inhalable insulin is right for you. In the meantime, don’t wait to inhale—help your body live with this condition by adopting a healthier, smarter lifestyle.

Broccoli: The Wonder Veggie

2006-02-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

This low-fat, low-calorie, cruciferous vegetable provides fiber, beta-carotene, and Vitamin C, just to name a few nutrients—and it packs a powerful punch against heart disease and cancer.

But alas, broccoli has one major flaw. Click here to find out what it is.

Multiple Facts About Multivitamins

2006-02-01T14:08:00.000-05:00

Get your minerals. Lick a rock.

Or take a multivitamin. Either way, you might not be doing your body any good. As with everything you consume, you must make safe, sensible choices about your multivitamins.

A recent article in Consumer Reports (also covered by NPR, which is how I learned about it) compared 18 brand-name and generic multivitamins.

CR tested vitamin and mineral content, and ‘dissolvability’ (whether the pills break down fast enough to be absorbed). The good news: CR found the major multivitamin brands were the most reliable, meeting all label claims, and remaining free of contaminants.

CR also recommended multivitamins for people with specific nutritional requirements. One group in that category caught my eye (and my nose): people with gastrointestinal disorders.

The reason: Having a GI disorder means your digestion system is out of whack, so it’s not properly processing and distributing 100% of the nutrients it needs—so taking a multivitamin might help the GI system get back on track.

But before all you GI-symptom-sufferers hail multivitamins as the latest quick-fix, take a good, hard look at your diet. Is it fatty? Over-refined? Processed? Nutrient-deficient?

Refined and processed foods lack the enzymes your body needs to break down, extract, and absorb nutrients. These are the same nutrients, incidentally, that you need to manufacture brain chemicals, which, in turn, promote digestion.

When your diet is heavy on fatty, refined, processed foods (read: unhealthy); when you eat too fast; or when you’re under stress, it’s only a matter of time before you start experiencing GI symptoms: GERD, acid reflux, heartburn, gas, bloating, or worse.

Conversely, when you follow a balanced (and, ideally, organic) diet—that’s fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, low-fat meats and dairy products—your body will get all the nutrients it needs, usually without the need for a multivitamin.

Here’s the best part: modifying your diet based on the advice above can even alleviate GI symptoms. CR correctly reports that giving your body a steady diet of nutrient-rich foods provides benefits that no multivitamin or pill can, including:

* Fiber. Fiber exercises and cleans your GI tract in digestion, and keeps the plumbing working. The clearer you keep your GI tract, the less likely you are to experience symptoms like gas, bloating, or cramping.

* Phytochemicals. These natural compounds work with nutrients and dietary fiber to protect against disease. They also have a bunch of ‘anti’ effects—antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral.

* Weight loss. Eating nutritious foods keeps you from eating the unhealthy stuff, so your body will naturally shed any excess pounds.

The solution is clear in my mind. Adopt good eating habits before reaching for a multivitamin. If your doctor recommends one, choose a well-tested, major brand, such as those recommended by CR (disclaimer: I don’t support, invest in, or endorse any multivitamin vendors).

Lastly, make certain to roll in moderate exercise (such as a nice 30 minute walk every day or so). This will help your body—and your GI system—truly rock.

Don't Blinq or You'll Miss My Inquirer Appearance

2006-01-31T10:47:00.000-05:00

I explained to the Inquirer's lead blogger why Super Bowl parties stink!

Blinq: Roughing The Passer
http://blogs.philly.com/blinq/2006/01/bill_downs_the_.html

Help for Party Poopers

2006-01-30T11:57:00.000-05:00

Check it out:
Star-Telegram | 01/30/2006 | A victory for bad taste

The Slashdot of Food

2006-01-30T10:53:00.000-05:00

You might have heard of Slashdot, the influential tech blog. But did you know there's also a Slashfood? Now you do. Here's my Slashfood debut.

Super Bowl Snacks: watch out for fart-inducers - Slashfood
http://tinyurl.com/bca33

I Had a Gas in Seattle

2006-01-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

I chatted with Bill Reader, the assistant sports editor at the Seattle Times, about the upcoming fart fest popularly known as the Super Bowl.

The Seattle Times: Seahawks: Fun Notes: Super Sunday, it's a gas, gas, gas
http://tinyurl.com/a6pq4

The Obesity Pill: Fat Chance

2006-01-23T16:56:00.000-05:00

Today the Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide if the generic prescription drug orlistat, which reduces the bodies ability to absorb fat, is appropriate for over-the-counter (OTC) distribution.

If the FDA approves orlistat for OTC sale, the public will have yet another way to medicate themselves to achieve a result (weight loss) that’s entirely possible to attain safely, without medication.

Worse, while orlistat can cut the body’s fat absorption by about a third, it has some extremely unpleasant side effects—namely (you guessed it!) FLATULENCE; loose, oily bowels; involuntary leakage; and a frequent, urgent need for a bowel movement.

What’s the lesser evil: a few extra pounds that you could work off with relative ease (provided you have the willpower), or serious gastrointestinal insult brought on by an OTC medication that’s allegedly improving your health?

One health expert noted that patients who followed the lowest-fat diets while using the drug were most successful, probably because a healthier regimen is gentler on the GI tract, and reduced the uncomfortable side effects.

Sound familiar? It should, if you’re a regular reader of the Trafon blog. Here’s another of my core concepts, which I urge readers to remember: OTC medications only sedate symptoms; they don’t cure a thing.

Want to lose weight? Here’s the only formula that’s proven to work every time: EAT MUCH HEALTHIER. EXERCISE MORE.

Fix your body by consuming wholesome (preferably organic) foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Keep your diet low in fat. Ramp up the exercise (even a mere 30 minutes of walking a day will do).

This is a sound, proven, painless, and most of all, safe prescription for shedding extra pounds. Contrast that to orlistat, which I fear is merely a prescription for shedding methane, or worse.

Lights! Camera! Snickers!

2006-01-22T10:57:00.000-05:00

Being under the heat of the TV lights was hard enough without having to talk about flatulence. Here's my recent appearance on Comcast Newsmakers. I think it's pretty clear that Jen Boyett is doing all she can not to crack up while asking me about farts and farting. Me, I was cool, calm, and collected, as always.

http://tinyurl.com/7zqrd

Yo Gassy! Try Yoga!

2006-01-17T11:12:00.000-05:00

Here’s a wonderful way to pass up the pills and take a holistic approach to gastrointestinal delight: therapeutic yoga.

With smaller classes, gentler poses, and a slower pace than traditional yoga, therapeutic yoga targets people with chronic illnesses ranging from AIDS to osteoporosis to Crohn’s disease.

While not a medical cure or treatment, yoga provides stress relief, mild exercise, and an opportunity for meditation (not medication) in an emotionally supportive environment.

People who practice yoga are also better able to tolerate their symptoms. Consider the case of Teresa Kennedy, a former TV executive who has Crohn’s disease (a chronic disorder that inflames the digestive or GI tract; usually the small intestine or colon).

After practicing yoga, Kennedy found she no longer gets Crohn’s symptoms. That led her to open her own yoga studio in an effort to share her discovery, and bring relief to others.

While I don’t know Teresa Kennedy personally, her story appeals to me, because it appears we have the same mission: to help people with chronic conditions alleviate those conditions through natural means.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those anti-medical-establishment whackos. But I don’t believe Americans should use over-the-counter medications to treat conditions that can be successfully addressed using natural means.

And when it comes to the GI tract, smart eating; regular, moderate exercise; and even yoga can be effective holistic solutions to problems that otherwise require polluting the body with unnatural non-prescription chemicals.

Planting A Big One

2006-01-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?”

With lots of farting, apparently. It turns out that green plants fart. A lot.

That according to research conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, in Heidelberg, Germany. Scientists were shocked to discover that plants worldwide dispense up to 236 million tons of methane into the atmosphere every year.

For generations, scientists thought that trees and plants—flora in general—were good for the environment, because they consume harmful carbon dioxide (CO2), and emit life-giving oxygen (O2).

But now it’s clear that plants produce methane, and put the “green” into greenhouse gases. Indeed, the Planck Institute’s research rattles recent international agreements that allow countries to offset greenhouse gas emissions by planting trees as credits.

Now those calculations must be completely rethought to factor in plant methane emissions. This shows how that even the most widely accepted, long-held principles can be overturned overnight.

In my world, where I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can help people who suffer with uncontrollable gas, this line of thinking leads me back to one of my core principles: Americans are the most over-medicated population, yet also the most chronically diseased.

Conventional thinking: Plants are good for the environment. New thinking: Plants are increasing greenhouse gasses, ands contributing to global warming. Conventional thinking: take medications for stomach upset, gas, bloating, heartburn, the runs, etc.

My thinking: Eat the right amounts of the right foods, and you won’t overtax your body or otherwise insult your gastrointestinal system—which leads to cramping, discomfort, and gas.

Time will prove me right.

Making a Stink in the New York Post

2006-01-15T16:49:00.000-05:00

The New York Post gave me some stink, er, ink today. Check it out by clicking here.

A Fart’s Best Friend

2006-01-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

When your best friend won’t stop farting, take him straight to a vet. As many pet owners know, uncontrollable gas isn’t strictly a human issue. It affects cats and dogs, too.

Luckily for stinky pets and embarrassed owners everywhere, veterinary news correspondent Dr. Marty Becker addresses some causes and solutions to pet flatulence.

Take a look at some of Dr. Becker’s recommendations, and bear in mind that they’ll work just as well for you as they will for Fido or Felix.

Problem: Aerophagia (swallowing air).
Solution: Feed your pet several small meals a day. Discourage rapid eating. Mix moist and dry foods.

Problem: Noxious (smelly) gas production.
Solution: Change your pet’s dietary protein sources. Eliminate vitamin, mineral, or fat supplements. Avoid onions, nuts, and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, etc.).

Cause: Intestinal (noisy) gas production.
Solution: Feed your pet highly digestible foods, or switch to foods with rice as the predominant carbohydrate source. Also, avoid foods containing legumes, lactose, fresh fruits, or dried fruits.

For dogs, Dr. Becker also suggests increasing their activity by walking them outdoors within 30 minutes after eating, to encourage defecation, and to eliminate intestinal gas.

Great advice for pets and the people that love them. And kudos to Dr. Becker for not recommending pet medications. Be it pet or person, medication is not the answer when it comes to reducing or eliminating chronic gassiness.

The secret is diet monitoring and modification, and carefully timed mild exercise (walking). Now that’s a solution we all can live with.

Q&A with me in the Morning Call

2006-01-06T16:54:00.000-05:00

Had a great chat with Jessica Berthold at the Morning Call about digestive maladies. You can read it by clicking here.

PODCASTIC: Me on KOKX AM in Iowa

2006-01-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed a warm reception in Iowa this week at radio station KOKX 1310 AM, where I appeared on “Just for the Health of It” (get it?), hosted by Tammy Sollenberger. Click here to give it listen!

Flatulence in Florida

2006-01-05T17:21:00.000-05:00

Florida Today let the sun shine in on flatulence, in an extensive article that features ... me! I just received a PDF of it, and have posted it to my server. Click here to read it.

Pentagon Considered "Fart Bombs"

2006-01-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

Reporters who acquired Pentagon documents under the Freedom of Information Act discoveredU.S. Defense Department has been considering development of a “fart bomb” (for want of a better term) since 1945.

The Defense Dept. researchers only recently discarded the idea, concluding the concept for such a device was flawed because “people in many areas of the world do not find fecal odor offensive, since they smell it on a regular basis”.

Tell me about it! This is what I have been saying for years: that uncontrollable gas is a problem of global proportions. The difference, of course, is that here is the good ol’ U.S.A., we do find fecal odor offensive.

Assuming enemy troops do, like us, find fecal odor offensive, perhaps a better and more cost-effective approach would be for Defense Dept. researchers to visit this blog, and compile a list of the top foods guaranteed to cause gastrointestinal fireworks. Then they could have the Air Force air drop them over enemy troops, and in a few hours, BANG!

PODCAST: Big Talk on The Big 550

2005-12-29T13:35:00.000-05:00

I spent a few minutes with Scott St. James on his morning show, which airs daily on KTRS, "The Big 550", in St. Louis. Talk radio there will never smell the same! Click here to listen in.

PODCAST: Grilled by NewsRadio 610's John Corby

2005-12-28T13:17:00.000-05:00

I had a great time as a guest on John Corby's talk show, on WTVN NewsRadio 610 in Columbus, Ohio. Click here to tune in to my appearance.

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukka!

2005-12-24T19:20:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

PODCAST: My recent appearance on Sirius Satellite Radio

2005-12-22T16:04:00.000-05:00

The great Jay Thomas recently invited me to join him on his Sirius Satellite Radio show to discuss the blog, and the holiday gassiness so many of us suffer with at this time of year. Click here to listen.

Truly great cinema

2005-12-21T15:53:00.000-05:00

Step aside, King Kong. Here's a true monster of an Internet movie that will tug at your heartstrings and your nosestrings.

King Kloud: The Movie

2005-12-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

We went to see King Kong over the weekend. Like many busy professionals, I enjoy going to the movies to escape the day-to-day routine and work pressures for a few hours. And with King Kong running over 3 hours, I was looking forward to 3-plus hours of entertainment.

As luck would have it, King Kong turned out to be King Kloud, sending me straight into the flatulence zone. You see, about 10 minutes into the first scene, someone in the general vicinity of our party started releasing a steady stream of methane into the theater.

At first I paid no attention to it. But it became unpleasant after withstanding an hour of it. I was on the verge of entering the fully-annoyed zone when I reminded myself that some people can’t help it.

By the second hour, whoever was “behind” the odor was becoming bolder, and started ripping them out loud. Literally. I clearly heard what sounded like a huge zipper being zipped.

Now THAT was rude, and they could have controlled it with a little effort and concentration. Still, the experience got me thinking about what movie foods could have possibly given this person such a bad case of uncontrollable gas.

Three suspects immediately came to mind (and all are not generally recognized by movie-goers as fart fodder): sugar-free soda, popcorn, and sugar-free candies. Their potency is amplified when they’re consumed together, as diabetics and dieters are likely to do at the movies.

Sugar-free candies are made with sugar alcohols, which cause extremely smelly gas, cramping, and/or the runs in a large percentage of the population. That’s why so many diabetics are gassy. They eat foods with sugar-free sweeteners, most if not all of which are sweetened with sugar alcohols.

Sugar-free sodas are also made with sugar substitutes. Combine the effects of soda carbonation (which is a gas) with the effects of artificial sweeteners that produce methanol – which metabolize into methane – and the results are audible.

Then there’s the popcorn. Operative word: CORN. It’s hard for the body to break down, which is why you'll see corn (or popcorn) kernels in your stool. They pass through your body completely intact.

Furthermore, popcorn is rich in natural sugars. Indeed, corn is where we get corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup from (hence the reason we call it “corn” syrup). The popcorn we eat at the movies is the starchy response of what happens when the sugars inside it are heated until they “pop” .

Combine something that’s hard to digest – popcorn – with easily fermentable sugar, carbonation, and sugar-free candy loaded with sugar alcohols, and you have a recipe for some serious methane production.

My advice for movie goers who suffer with gas problems: avoid the sugar-free candies and drinks, and swear off the popcorn while you’re at it.

Lastly, sit as close to the screen as you can, as methane rises rapidly. If you do happen to sit near a chronic gasser, you won’t suffer as much as those poor folks in the upper rows.

First hybrid motorcycle tested

2005-12-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

You're probably wondering why I would pen a blog post about the first hybrid motorcycle. The answer is twofold.

First, regular readers of this blog know that I am concerned about environmental issues, and have written posts that talk about the strange-but-true connection between passing gas -- whether human or otherwise -- and global warming.

Hybrid vehicles are powered by both gasoline and some other fuel (such as hydrogen, natural gas, electricity, etc.). They produce fewer hydrocarbon emissions and, as such, are better for the environment.

While there are a number of hybrid automobiles on the market, until today, nobody has created a hybrid motorcycle.

Second, and more to the point, the man who invented, engineered, and built the prototype of the world's first hybrid motorcycle is a good friend of mine, and, as chance would have it, he suffers from flatulence.

Click here to download a small PowerPoint presentation that he is using to demonstrate his hybrid cycle.

If you don't have PowerPoint, click here to download and install Microsoft's free PowerPoint Viewer.

Supplement Cuts Methane Emissions 70%

2005-12-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

Hot on the heels of my recent post about methane from cow manure contributing to global warming, I learn that scientists in the United Kingdom have developed a food supplement that reduces bovine methane emissions by about 70%.

That’s outstanding news for two reasons. One, any advance in the fight against global warming is an important win for the future of this planet. Two, if supplementing a cow’s diet can cut their gas emissions by 70%, without modifying their diet, what might the future hold for humans who can’t stop stinking?

In my view, this is a strong indication that there could be (and in my view, probably are) as-yet undiscovered organic compounds that might offer dramatic benefits to people who suffer with uncontrollable gas.

If it works for cows, who is to say it won’t work for humans? Can you imagine being able to reduce your gas problems by 70%, simply by taking a pill or sipping a mix?

The science behind this research is aimed at reducing greenhouse gasses. But you can bet scientists and drug companies will be looking closely at this study, and not solely at the agricultural aspects.

Call me crazy, but in my view, this news offers great hope for HUMAN sufferers of uncontrollable gas!

Extreme Problem, Extreme Solutions

2005-12-07T20:11:00.000-05:00

Here’s an interesting approach for dealing with unpleasant odors that arise from uncontrollable gas: trap the puffers in underwear that has a built-in activated charcoal filter.

Or consider this: a charcoal-activated chair pad for people with non-stop gas. Drop it on your office chair, park your tush, and you can squeeze methane out all day without offending your coworkers’ noses (although it can’t do anything for their ears).

I’m not endorsing these products. I haven’t tested them. And frankly, I’m not inclined to walk around with a charcoal pad jammed into my Skivvies.

But the fact that there’s a company out there that’s found a ready market for charcoal-activated undies proves what I have been saying for years: uncontrolled gas is a serious problem that impacts millions of people.

Worse, it’s a problem that people prefer to ignore, due to embarrassment, instead of talking about openly.

Frankly, I think a better approach to dealing with uncontrollable gas is to figure out what foods or combination of foods and medical conditions are causing the flatulence.

In some cases (such as with a lactose intolerance), a natural supplement can cure the problem, without requiring you to give up your favorite foods or dishes.

And in all cases, modifying one’s diet is not only less costly than buying a year’s supply of undie pads; it’s also more effective, because it targets the root causes of the problem.

Getting rid of the body odor that plagues sufferers of uncontrollable gas is a good first step. Eliminating the cramping, bloating, embarrassing noises, and inopportune bathroom runs is the as-yet unsolved step.

Hamming It Up for Xmas

2005-12-05T15:10:00.000-05:00

On November 24th the U.S. Census Bureau issued a news release filled with interesting Thanksgiving facts.

For example, did you know that the first Thanksgiving actually took place this month, in December 1621, and not in November as we now observe. It took another 242 years before Thanksgiving became a national holiday, forever enshrined as the last Thursday of November by President Abraham Lincoln.

But while the date we observe Thanksgiving has changed from it’s original December observance to its present November holiday, one thing remains constant: it’s a national excuse to overeat.

And for people with diabetes; malabsorptive syndromes; lactose intolerance; Crohn’s, Colitis, Celiac, or inflammatory bowel diseases; or other lower-GI issues, Thanksgiving can be one of the most uncomfortable, gassiest holidays of the year.

Indeed, this year I personally suffered for days with flatulence issues, after eating too much of my Aunt’s delicious homemade cole slaw. The cabbage in her slaw causes severe gas for the same reasons beans do.

If you suffered, or are still suffering, as a result of your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s not too late to think about how you will survive—indeed, enjoy—your next challenging feast: Christmas dinner.

Eating too much of anything can (and often does) overburden your digestive system, and cause undesirable effects. This problem is exacerbated when the foods in question are refined, processed foods such as stuffing, filling, breads, pies, cakes, etc.

These foods are devoid of enzymes, which the body needs to break them down. Complicating matters: our bodies don’t handle raw foods very well anymore; because they’ve become accustomed to digesting the refined processed stuff.

The best way to avoid the consequences of your Christmas ham or turkey dinner: reduce your intake of gravy, stuffing, and other white refined foods (yeah, like that’s possible), while increasing your intake of lightly cooked (preferably steamed) vegetables.

When it comes to big holiday dinners, you really are what you eat.

And if someone you know returned from their Thanksgiving holiday smelling, well, not like roses, send them an anonymous Gassy Greeting Card. Maybe they’ll take the hint, and return from their Xmas dinner without that gas cloud in tow.

P.U.: Perfectly Unacceptable

2005-12-02T16:20:00.000-05:00

Why do we say “P.U.” when we smell something unpleasant? It turns out that there are multiple opinions on the term’s origin, and disagreement on how it’s spelled: PU, P.U., Phyu, or Pew (as in Pepé le).

There are some whacky guesses, such as an early marketing campaign for deodorant that fights Personal Underarm odor.

But this much is certain: the Indo-European root “pu-” means “rot” and “decay”, words obviously associated with objectionable odors. Think putrid, pungent, or even puke.

Another possibility is that P.U. is short for putro, puter, puteo, Latin words for putrid, foul, stink, be redolent, or smell bad.

Any way you slice it, this is an interesting factoid to bring up at your next boring holiday party. And make sure you tell folks you read it on the Trafon blog first!

Good News for Bean Lovers

2005-12-01T15:58:00.000-05:00

A British agricultural consultant has come up with a new type of bean that reportedly doesn’t cause gas. That’s good news for people who know that eating beans gives them a good case of the whiz-bangs.

Here’s why beans give people gas: the complex sugars found in beans (carbohydrates or starches known as disaccharides) are too large to pass through the walls of our small intestine, and our body doesn’t produce an enzyme that can break them down.

This forces the body to move the beans through our large intestine, where they’re eaten – literally – by hundreds of bacteria species that live there.

The bacteria produce carbon dioxide and methane as they break the foodstuffs down. As those gasses build up, they’re passed out of the body in the form of breaking wind.

Flatulence Gets Top Billing

2005-11-30T15:33:00.000-05:00

Passing gas wasn’t always taboo.

In the late 19th and early part of the 20th century, a Frenchman named Joseph Pujol achieved fame under the stage name “Le Petomane” – French for “The Great Farter”.

Le Petomane was capable of inhaling air or water into his colon, which he would use to fuel all manner of flatulent performances.

He astounded audiences for decades with his impressive physical skills, imitating musical instruments, farm animals, bird songs, and popular whistling melodies.

Today it is doctors who are astounded by amazingly gassy performances of patients suffering with chronic gassiness.

Last year American consumers downed hundreds of millions of dollars worth of prescription and over-the-counter antacids and antigas products. But did it help? In nearly all cases, people are treating symptoms, not curing underlying conditions.

I have to believe that real cures for chronic gassiness are out there. But the global pharmaceutical industry doesn't make money by curing diseases, and eliminating the markets those diseases represent. They make money by treating symptoms.

Does 65 Million Year Old Doo-Doo Smell?

2005-11-29T13:01:00.000-05:00

Hot on the heels of my post about cow manure contributing to global warming, I learn that scientists have discovered dino “business” that’s 65 million years old.

How did that stuff manage to stay around so long, considering that human and animal waste is biodegradable? You have to wonder.

Even more interesting, the fossilized dino dung contains evidence of grasses, indicating that these particular dinos were, in part, grazers – just like cows.

Which only goes to prove the old maxim, “you are what you eat.” The problem, though, is that many foods dubbed as “healthy” cause millions of Americans cramping, bloating, and gas.

And if you suffer with diabetes, IBS, IBD, and a host of other conditions, so-called healthy foods can be a constant, yet unrecognized source of uncontrollable gas.

There are ways to identify the foods that are the source of your uncontrollable gas. And there are solutions that can help alleviate constant farting, in the form of prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements.

But these solutions are not without serious issues. I’ll get into some of these solutions, their issues, and ways to isolate the foods that are causing your uncontrollable gas in future posts.

Belching Contributes to Global Warming

2005-11-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

You might have heard that methane generated from cow manure is responsible for some degree of air pollution, and contributes to global warming.

It turns out that it isn't cow flop that’s causing the problem, but rather, it's cow belches.

That's according to a study that found less than half the air pollution attributable to cows comes from their excretions. About sixty percent comes from “cow burps”.

I'm not surprised, seeing as cows have stomachs with four compartments, compared to the single-compartment stomach in humans.

The reason is the food they eat (it’s not just grass). It’s hard to chew, and tough to digest. Cows swallow food without chewing much. They store their unchewed meals in their first two stomachs: the rumen and the reticulum.

Later, while at rest, cows belch up parts of their unchewed meals, which is called “cud” (hence the term “chewing their cud”). This time around the cows chew the food well, swallow it, and send it to their third and fourth stomachs: the omasum and abomasum.

That’s where it’s digested. Some of it becomes milk. The rest becomes air pollution.

The Last Taboo

2005-11-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I wrote that a fart by any other name would still smell as gross. That got me thinking about the last taboo: openly talking about farts and farting in a serious manner in mixed company.

Discussions about farts are either off-limits, or relegated to humor and comedy. But uncontrollable gas is a serious problem that effects millions of Americans who never crack open a can of beans.

Indeed, the list of conditions that can cause uncontrollable gas is long, and many of these conditions are serious. Some are obvious (such as IBS), while others might surprise you.

Over 30% of Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also known as “IBS” – and most sufferers are women. How ironic that an act usually associated with smart-aleck boys and immature men (farting) is, in the case of IBS, afflicting ladies.

Other conditions include HIV/AIDS, malabsorptive syndromes, pancreatitis, lactose intolerance, Crohn’s disease, Colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Celiac disease, and diabetes.

Many prescription and non-prescription medications, as well as dietary supplements, also cause uncontrollable gas. What sad about this is that people are often taking these medications and supplements to treat serious conditions. As a result, they endure the additional suffering and embarrassment of uncontrollable gas.

Gas-inducing meds include antibiotics (penicillin and its derivatives), antiviral medications, cholesterol-lowering drugs, protein supplements, narcotic pain medications, drugs that treat diarrhea (Imodium, Kaopectate, Lomotil), fiber and bulk-producing supplements (such as Fiberall, Metamucil, Citrucel, FiberCon), and iron supplements.

Farting isn't always funny. Especially when it affects you, and you can't control it.

Shakespearean Ponderings

2005-11-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."
--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

And that which we call a fart, by any other word, would smell as, er, gross.

People who suffer from uncontrollable gas also smell gross. The problem is, most people – and certainly those who are not family members (such as coworkers) – won’t tell someone they have an odor problem.

They might think you don’t bathe. I’ve been in offices where people joke about “Len” or “Karen” having “frumunda cheese”, meaning they have odors emanating “from under” their arm pits or other bodily folds.

The truth is, Len or Karen might actually have uncontrollable gas, usually as a result of their diet. The Lens and Karens of the world simply don’t realize their all-day gassy leaking creates an aroma that clings to them.

They don’t smell it, because they’re used to it. But the reality is, others do smell it, others talk about it behind their back, and others are too embarrassed to do the right thing and tell them about it.

That’s why I created my Gassy Greeting Cards. They’re a safe, completely anonymous way to tell people they have a gas problem, and should do something about it.

What can be done? Lots of things; some obvious, others not so obvious. I’ll be touching on some effective gas-fighting techniques in future posts.

Vitamins Help Prevent Colon Cancer

2005-11-22T14:38:00.000-05:00

You may want to think twice about skipping that multivitamin. A new report shows that vitamins C, B-6 and folate have a protective effect against the development and/or worsening of risk factors that lead to colorectal tumors in smokers. Likewise, beta-carotene has a similar effect on nonsmokers.

In general, good quality nutrition, combined with informed dietary supplementation, is known to reduce risk factors of disease development, especially for most cancers. A healthy regimen lowers the incidence of digestive maladies that a habitual diet of refined, processed, calorie-rich, and nutrient-deficient food causes.

To counterbalance this, you should try to find supplemental products to bolster the health and functional competence of the GI tract-a tactic crucial for restoring optimum immune and metabolic function.

Can’t Buy Me Health

2005-11-21T14:24:00.000-05:00

I recently came across a study suggesting that chronic diseases account for 70% of all U.S. deaths, as opposed to a century ago when infectious diseases were the #1 killer. But what really struck me is that here we are, the most medicated country in the world, yet we remain the most chronically diseased.

In essence, we're fooling ourselves into living a symptom-free illusion by medicating ourselves to death. And in doing so, we're not really correcting the underlying causes, especially when it comes to digestion issues.

Anti-inflammatory drugs do not cure anything-they only relieve the immediate symptom and don't prevent destruction of the GI tract. Even the MSM is starting to pick up on this underreported fact.

So what's the solution? For starters, a healthy diet and lifestyle that provides the building blocks and components needed to allow the body to rebuild, repair, restore, and rejuvenate its healthy functionality. Then, get to the real root of the problem, instead of wishing it will simply go away.

Does Your GI Tract Have a Genetic Code?

2005-11-20T19:36:00.000-05:00

Have you ever experienced a sour stomach (or worse) while dealing with something particularly stressful? Turns out there's a reason for that-and it lies in your genes. Indeed, the way you process thoughts can now be used as an indicator for potential GI disorders.

That's according to a new study, which solidifies the notion that your genes and what you eat can influence your thoughts and cravings. But this isn't an open invitation to scarf down unhealthy foods in the name of genetics.

Instead, it should be a wake-up call to end the vicious cycle of thinking bad thoughts, eating bad food, suffering through bad bowel movements, creating a bad GI environment, which makes you crave bad comfort foods.

A Cycle of Maladies

2005-11-19T10:29:00.000-05:00

Let’s face the facts: as a culture we're overfed and undernourished. We eat calorie-rich, nutrient-depleted, fatty, and refined processed foods, then wonder why our digestive systems are always in distress. The truth is, we've gotten away from the natural design of how we’re supposed to eat, and our bodies are paying the price.

Because we’re not getting the nutrient-rich abundant foods we need to thrive, we're eroding the core of our internal health structure. Your digestion and immune system are intimately related; so when you deprive your body of essential nutrients, the GI tract has nothing to absorb or utilize, and your immune system bears the burden.

It’s like a dog chasing its tail. Until it realizes that futile nature of the cycle, it’ll keep going after the unreachable.