From: traub@btcs.bt.co.uk (Michael Traub)
Subject: Re: Vegan dilemma concerning pancreatic enzymes.
Organization: BT Customer Systems, Brighton, UK
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 00:05:09 GMT

In article <1992Aug20.171651.23638@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>In article <1992Aug20.080755.23350@btcs.bt.co.uk> traub@btcs.bt.co.uk (Michael Traub) writes:
>>>Your gut is already populated with its own ecosystem.
>>>There's not much you can do about that.
>>
>>References?
>
>This is like asking for "references" that the world isn't flat.
>There are thousands of published scientific papers on the
>bacterial flora and fauna of the gut.  I suggest that you
>check a few of these out, if you're truly intersted (which I doubt
>you are.)  Or perhaps take a look at a book on gastroenterology
>which will have "digested" many of these.

Perhaps you should re-read what you originally said. I am after references
that show that dietary changes cannot alter the balance of bacteria in
the gut. "There's not much you can do about that." was your remark.

>>>Definitely transient.  Eating yogurt or taking acidophilus changes
>>>the bowel flora somewhat--only slightly--but for only as long as
>>>you keep ingesting it.
>>
>>References?
>
>See above.  There have been many studies looking at the effects
>of diet on the fecal bacteria population.  Eating yogurt or taking
>live acidophilus supplements has a definite, but transient effect.
>That is, if you want to sustain anything other than their ordinary
>levels in the gut, you have to keep taking them.  The population of
>the gut is far more varied and persistent than you imagine.

Next I suppose you will tell me that candida infestation is all a
figment of people's imagination as well?

>>>If it's enhancing your health, it's because it's an expensive placebo.
>>What proof do you have for this statement?
>
>>Can you explain where the faulty thinking exists?
>
>I did in a later article.  This is a remedy for a diease which
>doesn't exist.  There's no such thing as "impacted feces".

Now you really are showing your *ignorance*. Try reading up on
diverticulitis.

>The only assertions I ever make are those which are commonly accepted
>by reputable scientific research.  I know that won't count for much in
>some people's eyes.  So be it.

You still haven't provided *one* reference.

>>It seems obvious to me you know very little about colon cleansing, and
>>you obviously haven't tried it yourself. Maybe you should go away
>>and try it before knocking it.
>
>It helps to know a bit about the colon before trying to pontificate
>on "cleaning" it.

That's the way, assume a superior attitude without bothering to
read what was said. These colon cleansing programs *work*. Just
because the medical journals you read don't agree does not
change the facts. You obviously have been reading a narrow
range of journals. Recent studies show a relationship
between colon infestation and arthritis as well.

>An unhealthy attention to the "health" of one's colon, and a
>desire to "clean" it, is hardly a mark of a vegan or a vegetarian.
>Please don't tar folks with such a statement.

I personally feel that colon-cleansing is an absolute waste of time
for a vegan and probably a waste of time for most vegetarians but
that doesn't mean I would knock someone's right to try it out. You
however can't help yourself. Whenever an article appears in this
newsgroup that is outside your narrow medical perspective you
insist on jumping up and down shouting 'bunkum' for all to hear.


-- 
Michael Traub