Autopsy studies and examinations of inflamed gall bladders removed surgically show that bacteria are rarely involved. Inflammation of the gall bladder can be caused by drugs, chemicals and bacterial toxins,6 in which case the liver should be built up to the extent that such substances can be detoxified. Two sisters who incurred this type of gall-bladder inflammation from spraying roses recently reported a rapid recovery after taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C and 200 units of vitamin E every three hours with pep-up containing 4 egg yolks per quart.

Usually, inflammation occurs only when cortisone is not being produced in adequate amounts; hence emphasis must be placed on helping the adrenals function with maximum efficiency.

When tension is so great that gas cannot be expelled normally but is forced-or diverted-against the intestinal walls, it sometimes forms small balloon-like protuberances known as diverticula. A person with these little uninvited guests, usually ranging from the size of a pea to that of a thimble, is said to have diverticulosis or, if they become inflamed, diverticulitis. He should quickly find harmless ways of blowing off steam so that his frustrations cannot cause such severe tensions in a normally elastic tissue.

People apparently have diverticula for years without knowing it until a chance x-ray reveals them; hence they are not necessarily troublemakers. Stagnant food or fecal matter, however, held in these thin-walled "balloons" can become a breeding place for putrefactive bacteria; inflammation, discomfort, and pain may result. Although diverticula can be removed surgically, others soon form unless a preventive campaign is undertaken.

Inflammation of the stomach, or gastritis, is usually a forerunner of ulcers and can be brought on by almost any variety of stress including fungi, alkalis, poisons and corrosives. It is produced experimentally by any deficiency which induces ulcers. Studies of persons with stomach fistulas show that gastritis is not caused by irritation from foods or aggravated by them, but most often results from worry, anxiety, grief, and similar emotions. Nutritionally, an anti-stress diet is needed, and the anti-stress formula should be taken with fortified milk every three hours until recovery is assured. Because abscesses sometimes form on the stomach walls or parts of the mucous membrane may shred off, vitamins A, E, and lecithin are particularly beneficial.

When hamsters have been given a diet deficient in vitamin E, all developed cholesterol stones, though no stones occurred in animals receiving the vitamin. It has been generally believed that diets high in fat and/or cholesterol produced stones, but animals given large amounts of cholesterol or saturated or unsaturated fats developed no stones as long as vitamin E was adequate. Conversely, hamsters fed no fat or cholesterol whatsoever all formed stones without vitamin E. The stones developed before any signs of a vitamin-E deficiency could be detected and while the amount of cholesterol in the bile and blood was the same as that in animals having no stones.

Vitamin K and apparently all the B vitamins can be synthesized by certain intestinal bacteria such as those obtained from yogurt and acidophil us milk or, in far greater concentration, from pure acidophil us culture. If any of these products are taken daily, the entire bacteria population of the intestine, which make up 80 per cent of the solid material of the stools, become exclusively lactic-acid organisms which destroy the gas-forming and disease, and odor-producing bacteria. The desirable bacteria live only on milk sugar and can die within five days unless milk in some form or milk sugar is supplied them. Powdered milk is an excellent concentrated source of milk sugar, but if milk is avoided, 1 teaspoon of milk sugar (lactose) should be taken with each tablespoon of acidophilus culture. When given a continuous supply of food, the lactic-acid bacteria may grow for weeks or months after yogurt or acidophil us has been discontinued.

Diseased gums or tonsils can cause halitosis, but more often putrefactive bacteria, living on undigested food, form foul-smelling gases which are thrown off in exhaled air. Any deficiency that impairs digestion is a contributing factor. Volunteers lacking vitamin B6 developed foul breath, which disappeared after the vitamin was given them. When there is an odor to the stools, halitosis invariably occurs simultaneously. The condition is rectified by improving the digestion and destroying the putrefactive bacteria by taking yogurt or acidophilus milk or culture.

Normally rhythmic contractions of the muscles in the walls of the stomach and small intestines continue for hours after eating, mixing the food mass with digestive juices, enzymes, and bile and bringing the already digested food into contact with the absorbing surface of the intestinal walls. Without such contractions, foods cannot be well digested or absorbed.

A potassium deficiency causes the contractions of the intestinal muscles to slow down markedly or these muscles to become partially or completely paralyzed. Such a deficiency occurs following surgery, diarrhea, and other forms of stress; the taking of cortisone or diuretics; and the consumption of highly refined foods or too much salt. This condition, which allows gas pains to become excruciating, is usually associated with constipation. For instance, a study of 655 colicky infants--probably enduring the combined stresses of having no pantothenic acid and nervous, overanxious mothers--revealed that the lower the blood potassium dropped, the worse the colic became. When 1 gram of potassium chloride was given them by injection, the colic quickly disappeared. Pantothenic acid, added to formula or drinking water, would probably have been equally effective.

Antibodies, white blood cells, the complement, and lymph cells are all made of complete protein. A lack of this nutrient can prevent recovery from infections regardless of the amounts of vitamins obtained. When a low-protein diet has been replaced by one high in protein, the production of antibodies has increased within a few hours. Of single amino acids, methionine and tryptophane, generously supplied in eggs and milk, are particularly valuable. Of single proteins tested for their ability to build body defenses, liver, yeast, and especially wheat germ proved most valuable. Egg yolk, milk, meat, and soy flour, in this order, particularly increased the production of white blood cells.

The main problem in diarrhea is that food is forced through the body so rapidly that few nutrients can be absorbed. Not infrequently, diarrhea occurs when we are unconsciously trying to get rid of something we do not like about ourselves. A variety of nutritional deficiencies can result in diarrhea, however, particularly a lack of niacin amide.

A lack of folic acid, vitamin B6, or magnesium also results in diarrhea, which can be quickly overcome when the missing nutrient is supplied. Because a high calcium intake causes magnesium to be excreted, diarrhea brought on by a magnesium deficiency is common in bottle-fed babies, persons on conventional ulcer diets, and individuals who take an excess of calcium. As little as 1/4 teaspoon of magnesium oxide daily, added to milk, prevents or corrects such diarrhea, and should probably be given to all bottle-fed infants, particularly if they are wakeful or irritable.

A tremendous amount of research has proved that vitamin C is vitally important in overcoming infections, but the use of antibiotics-and greater profits made from their sale. In a single year no less than 45 research projects reported that vitamin C rendered harmless a wide variety of bacterial toxins, and inhibited the growth of whatever bacteria it failed to destroy; that its action was non-specific in that it was deadly to all types of viruses and bacteria; and that while small amounts could bring some immunity, huge doses were much more effective. When large quantities were given to guinea pigs already injected with bacteria, 99 per cent of the body cells showed evidence of bacterial destruction in a single hour.