By Specific fibre can lead to an aggressive form of liver cancer
Certain kinds of fibre may be causing a lot more harm than we realise.
Fibre is usually a barrier to developing certain cancers, diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
A warning for those with sensitive guts
Some individuals are more prone to sensitive gut reactions than most people.
A condition known as silent vascular deformity.
Normal digestion consists of blood leaving the intestines and then going into the liver, where it’s filtered before returning to the rest of the body.
If you have vascular deformity, blood is detoured from the liver into the body’s general blood supply.
Blood bypassing the liver’s cleansing process contains high levels of microbial products that stimulate the immune system to cause chronic inflammation.
That level of inflammation can cause major damage to the liver.
Inflammation of this kind also reduces one’s ability to detect and kill cancer cells.
Researchers wanted to check this and what particularly refined fibre was the culprit. Excess bile acids in mice’s blood increased liver damage for all mice, but the ones fed inulin progressed to a deadly form of liver cancer.
What’s startling here is that 100% of all mice fed inulin developed cancer.
Conversely, none of the mice with low bile acids developed cancer when fed the same diet.
Inulin is known to be beneficial in subduing inflammation, but it can also have the opposite effect of causing immunosuppression, which is deadly for liver health.
For a long time, we have known how important gut health is and that disease begins manifesting in our gut.
Inulin is a refined, plant-based fermentable fibre in most supermarkets and health food stores.
It’s also added to many store-bought foods (please check the label).
Types of fibre
We consume two types: natural and processed dietary fibre (soluble and insoluble).
The gut bacteria ferment soluble fibres into short-chain fatty acids. Insoluble fibre passes through the digestive tract system unchanged.
Total fibre intake reduced the risk of liver cancer by 29 per cent in those whose serum bile acid levels were in the lowest quartile of their blood sample!
For men whose bile acid levels were in the top quarter, high fibre intake conferred a 40% increased risk of liver cancer.
If you are worried, do this.
I assume this is freaking out a lot of people (me included) because many of us experience negative gut reactions when eating particular high-fibre foods.
If you are worried that you may negatively react to inulin, a simple blood test identifies if you have high blood bile acid.
This is the only way to uncover if you are at risk of liver cancer.
However, if you have leaky gut liver, it’s only a matter of being careful of what you eat since your body reacts to it completely differently.
Finding this key piece of information could save your life and sanity.
Key take away
It’s important to note that only those with high bile acid levels are at risk. For those who do not have this issue, a high-fibre diet is still ideal.
Key foods that contain inulin (not the refined variety)
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Asparagus
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Garlic
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Artichokes
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Onions
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leaks
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Bananas
It’s also found in a processed form within
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Yogurt
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Cheese
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Ice cream
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Candy bars
These foods above can cause gas, bloating and loose stools.
Please check all food labelling before you decide to part with your hard-earned cash and perhaps a small sliver of your health!
If at all in doubt, please see your doctor immediately.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions about a medical condition or health objectives.
You can read the full research paper here.
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