Bisphenol-A, commonly known as BPA, has been banned from baby bottles and sippy cups for more than half a decade, but a new study published in Experimental Biology and Medicine journal finds that BPA is also a risk factor in developing inflammatory bowel disease. According to the Jennifer DeLuca, a graduate student in nutrition and the first author for the study,

This is the first study to show that BPA can negatively impact gut microbial amino acid metabolism in a way that has been associated with irritable bowel disease…” – Jennifer DeLuca, first author for the study

[Image explanation: Receipts are a common source of BPAs]

Bowel Disease and BPA

The term inflammatory bowel disease covers different digestive conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. People with IBD can suffer from severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue. The number of adults in the U.S. with Crohn’s has increased by 1 million people over the last two decades, and research hasn’t presented a cause. It’s highly likely that there isn’t a single cause for chronic illness. Dr. Clint Allred, a researcher from the nutrition and food science department at Texas A&M University, says,

The number of new cases of IBD are increasing, especially in nations that become more industrialized. While the causes of IBD have not yet been determined, several risk factors for developing it or worsening symptoms have been suggested. One such risk factor, the hormone estrogen, has been linked with an increased risk of IBD — and BPA can act as an estrogen. Furthermore, BPA has been previously shown to alter gut microbes similarly to the way the gut microbiota is altered in IBD patients.”

Related: How to Detox From Plastics and Other Endocrine Disruptors

Digestive Disorders are Increasing

Digestive disorders of all varieties are now a fact of life for many people. Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis…even instances of colorectal cancer are increasing in younger populations worldwide. The diversity of our microbiome is a huge factor in that. The greater the range of microbes in the gut, the healthier the digestive system is. Diverse bacteria needs diverse fuel. Yet the modern, conventional diet is anything but, with rice, corn, and wheat accounting for two-thirds of all food consumed. We’re also passing down this lack of diversity to our children, and we’ve only begun to see the beginning of what a limited microbiome looks like. According to a study,

…changes in the microbiota of mice consuming a low-MAC (microbiota accessible carbohydrates) diet and harboring a human microbiota are largely reversible within a single generation, however over multiple generations a low-MAC diet results in a progressive loss of diversity, which is not recoverable upon the reintroduction of dietary MACs.” – Nature.com

We’re already seeing these effects, and they will continue to amplify. Our gut microbiota diversity goes away when we don’t take care of it.

BPA Isn’t Going Away

Meanwhile, BPA is not going anywhere. Even if the chemical is completely banned, it has already leached into water supplies around the world, and the plastics scheduled to replace it like bisphenol S are equally or more harmful. Conventional medicine is increasingly out of answers. In fact, a number of medical devices like catheters, surgical instruments, endoscopes, and pacemakers still contain BPA and other plastics.

Realted: Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

Our natural defenses continue to drop, as we lose gut diversity. Our risk for diseases rises as we surround ourselves and our environment with problematic chemicals. Is it any wonder that this generation will be the first one where parents enjoy a longer lifespan than their children?

Sources:

• Study shows BPA risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease – Medical Xpress
• Texas A&M AgriLife study shows BPA risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease – AgriLife Today
• BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Hazardous – Scientific American
• BPA a substance of very high concern – Implications for the Medical Devices Regulation – Health Care Without Harm
• Diet-induced extinction in the gut microbiota compounds over generations – NCBI

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is now a fact of life for up to a quarter of Americans, and a review of all available vitamin D and IBS research found that individuals with IBS were likely to have insufficient levels of vitamin D. This is not the first time that a vitamin d deficiency has been linked to a serious disease, despite the lack of conclusive studies. Research from the University of Sheffield also indicated that vitamin d supplementation could alleviate IBS symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Dr. Bernard Corfe, one of its lead authors says, “The study provides an insight into the condition and, importantly, a new way to try to manage it…It is evident from the findings that all people with IBS should have their vitamin D levels tested and a large majority of them would benefit from supplements.”

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is necessary for absorbing calcium and maintaining bone strength, but the lack of it is also keenly felt. Vitamin d deficiencies have been linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, depression, and weight gain in addition to IBS. But vitamin d is a fat-soluble vitamin and at times is stored in the body for months. How do you know when your levels are low? Here are some signs of a deficiency to look out for:

• Muscle weakness and fatigue
• Red or white acne-like bumps on the cheeks, arms, thighs, and butt
• Respiratory problems
• Constant infections
• Depression
• Psoriasis

While these aren’t the only symptoms, they are some of the more subtle ones. If you catch the deficiency in time or know you have one, there are a few ways to fix that.

Get More Vitamin D

When looking to correct a vitamin deficiency, the best place to start is with whole foods. Most of the foods recommended to boost your vitamin d intake are animal-based, including egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, and fatty fish like salmon, tuna, or mackerel. There are a few vegan options, like shitake mushrooms.

There’s also the most obvious source of vitamin d – the sun. There are ways to increase your likelihood of vitamin d absorption from the sun (no sunscreen, for instance), but many locations don’t get enough light during winter months to make the sun a reliable source of vitamin d. That’s especially troubling, as low vitamin d makes people for susceptible to the flu.

This leaves supplementation as the best option for many people. One thing to be careful about? Large amounts of vitamin d for a long time can be toxic.

Simple Things

Medical professionals don’t know what causes IBS, and they don’t know how to treat it. Being aware of your vitamin intake through food, environment or supplementation can make a big difference Vitamin d deficiencies have been linked to major diseases and illnesses. In the face of an increasingly dangerous flu season, now is the time to increase your dose.

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• Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)
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• How to Make the Healthiest Smoothies – 4 Recipes
• Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Sources:

• Vitamin D Insufficiency Linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Sports Injuries – Dr. Mercola
• Vitamin D supplements could ease painful IBS symptoms– University of Sheffield
• Vitamin D – The #1 Vitamin You Need: From Treating Depression to Preventing Cancer – Organic Lifestyle Magazine
• The Truth About Vitamin D: Why You Need Vitamin D – Web M.D.
• 10 Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms Many Doctors Miss – The Healthy Home Economist