Beware.. Foods that may cause you serious diseases
Thanks to the promotion of their beneficial effect on gut health, the demand for fermented foods has increased and become more popular than ever. According to the British Daily Mail, fermented foods are prepared and manufactured using bacteria or yeast to break down natural sugars, and some, such as yogurt, contain probiotics, which are known to be strains of bacteria that are beneficial to gut health.
Other fermented foods are pasteurized, smoked, baked, or filtered. Although these methods can destroy live bacteria, they still have health benefits, such as providing kimchi - a traditional pickled food that is kept in a cold place - with lactic acid, which boosts the immune system; while sourdough bread provides fiber that is important for gut health.
Potential benefits
Bahi van de Bor, a nutritionist and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, says: "Fermentation was originally used as a way to preserve food, but these days fermented foods are manufactured to obtain their potential health benefits."
Fermented foods are promoted as a key way to boost “good” gut bacteria, promoting a diverse microbiome linked to improved digestion, reduced inflammation, stronger immune systems and mental health.
Health warnings
Experts are now warning that some people — particularly those with weakened immune systems — should be wary of consuming them. The warning comes on the heels of a recent discovery by Ohio State University that some fermented foods, such as kimchi and artisanal cheese, contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria can cause gut-related symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, or even more serious health problems, such as potentially fatal sepsis, if they enter the bloodstream.
Dangerous strain of bacteria
One of the kimchi products tested in the study was found to contain a highly antibiotic-resistant strain of the bacteria Vaccella, which has been linked to serious infections including inflammation of the lining of the heart, bone inflammation and even death. Most serious cases occur in people who already have weakened immune systems and some who are receiving chemotherapy.
Some strains of Vaccella are linked to the bacteria’s resistance to many antibiotics, says Dr Manal Mohammed, a senior lecturer in medical microbiology at the University of Westminster.
A disease from the drug
The researchers suggested that those who were more likely to consume more fermented foods – for example, in an attempt to boost gut health after an illness or a course of antibiotics, which kill off both good and bad bacteria – were particularly vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant bacteria because their immune defences were already low.
Probiotic supplements
“In this scenario, it is safe to take supplements of specific strains of probiotics to restore gut health,” advises van de Boer, which are effective in preventing infections-related diarrhoea such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii, noting that specific probiotics can provide targeted benefits such as reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating associated with irritable bowel syndrome, as well as improving gas and bowel regularity in adults.
Spread of infection
The discovery of antibiotic-resistant probiotics in fermented foods is “very worrying,” says Dr. Manal Mohamed, and that stool contaminated with bacterial infections can “help spread antibiotic resistance in the environment,” noting that consuming antibiotic-resistant probiotics can cause some people to accumulate antibiotic-resistant genes.
Histamine intolerance
Van de Boer explains that “some fermented foods are high in histamine, which can lead to symptoms including headaches, rashes, and gastrointestinal problems in people with histamine intolerance,” a condition that affects about 3% of the world’s population. It is a type of allergy that occurs as a result of the accumulation of histamine in the body and a deficiency in the coenzyme that breaks down histamine to perform its multiple functions in the body.
