Diet of worms eases that gut feeling


The concoction will soon be on sale in Europe, after researchers found that tiny parasites called pig whipworms appear to have an astonishing effect on symptoms for a crippling form of bowel disease, New Scientist says.

The idea for this comes from US gastroenterologist Joel Weinstock of the University of Iowa, who believes modern man's bowel system is over-sanitised.

He noticed that Western countries have experienced a sharp rise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the past 50 years.

That increase has coincided with a sharp fall in infections by classic intestinal parasites such as roundworm and human whipworms. In developing countries, on the other hand, these parasites are common but IBD is very rare.

Weinstock believes that our immune systems have evolved over millions of years to cope with the presence of such parasites and without them our bowels can become overactive....

... It will be sold under the name of "TSO" (for Trichuris Suis Ova), presumably because "Drinkable Pig Whipworms" may not be a smart branding strategy.


The Best of the Web gang over at www.opinionjournal.com added this little jest: But really, if they want to encourage the drinking of worms, why not market them as "tequila"?


Chuckle

Evie