Protect Gut Health!

Research on the gut microbiome—a diverse array of trillions of microorganisms that reside in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract—is revealing how pivotal this microbial ecosystem is to preventing premature aging. Imbalances in this ecosystem, called gut dysbiosis, are linked with an array of chronic diseases, and healing our gut can keep us healthy and sustain virility. But longstanding threats from FDA policies put our ability to protect gut health in serious jeopardy.

Tell the FDA, with a copy to Congress, to stop barring Americans from keeping a healthy gut by 1) fixing the NDI guidance’s absurd definition of “chemically altered,” 2) reversing their decision to treat FMT like a drug, and 3) allowing the free flow of information about dietary supplements.

Recipients

Your Senators
Your Representative

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Alliance for Natural Health USA.

Remember me. What's this?

Message

Help Americans protect gut health

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

The importance of the gut microbiome to human health cannot be understated. Yet the FDA is threatening our ability to use natural products to support gut health. Probiotics are particularly threatened through the FDA's expansive interpretation of what it means for a supplement to be "chemically altered" in the new dietary ingredient (NDI) guidance. Changing any aspect of the fermentation process to produce strains commonly used in foods more safely and with fewer allergens triggers the burdensome NDI requirements, which are akin to pre-approval.

FMT is another procedure that holds great promise in helping regenerate gut health, but again, the FDA is treating FMT--that is, human feces--like a drug, paving the way for it to become another blockbuster for Big Pharma.

Finally, we're prevented from learning about the stunning benefits of foods and supplements for gut health, whether prebiotics or probiotics, since only FDA-approved drugs can make claims relating to disease mitigation, prevention, and/or treatment.

Ninety-nine percent of the genetic information we contain is microbial. These microbes perform pivotal functions in the body. Age, our environment, genetics, stress levels, disease, and, most important of all, diet, contribute to changes in the relative abundance and diversity of bacterial species of the GI tract.

Emerging research indicates that the health and diversity of our gut microbiome has a profound impact on how we age. Multiple studies have shown, for example, that fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from healthy donors improves longevity. A lack of diversity in gut flora has been linked to increased frailty, inflammation, and susceptibility to intestinal disorders.

This adds to growing evidence that shows how essential the gut microbiome is to overall health and disease risk. Gut microbiome health is linked with neurodegenerative disorders (ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), anxiety, sleep, autism, immune function, and cancer. A burgeoning field of research provides fascinating insights into how specific bacterial populations in the GI tract are implicated in disease. For example, cranberry extract has been shown to prevent weight gain and help with metabolic syndrome; these effects were associated with an increase in abundance of Akkermansia in the gut. Hypertensive populations have been found to have overgrowths of Prevotella and Klebsiella.

Please stop barring Americans from keeping a healthy gut by 1) fixing the NDI guidance's absurd definition of "chemically altered," 2) reversing the FDA's decision to treat FMT like a drug, and 3) allowing the free flow of information about dietary supplements.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]