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read_with_a_slash_s t1_j69hvl7 wrote

Reply to comment by Mammoth-Corner in Why can an adult’s GI tract expel C. botulinum spores while an infant can’t? by curiousnboredd

Will "intestinal flushing" events like a prep for colonoscopy impact the gut biome long term? I've heard it's best to eat probiotic rich diet for a few days after drinking that vile concoction and living on the toilet for 18 hours...

If I instead ate a "regular American diet" after a colonoscopy, would my beneficial bacterial composition return slowly, or incompletely?

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PlantLover1869 t1_j6a0llf wrote

You aren’t actually going to flush out the bacteria by flushing out fecal matter. Obviously you will lose some. But you’re still going to have lots and lots adhered to your gut walls. Your gut wall has lots of folds in it to increase surface area. Bacteria are going to hide in these books and crannies. And well as are adapted to adhering or sticking to your gut wall.

Generally bacteria biomes in the gut change when you kill them off with antibiotics. Or they slowly change over time with a chronic disease like diabetes.

But flushing your system clear with a laxative should have a much smaller effect

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