Dear Editor

I am in no position to question Professor Eugenie Lumbers’ expertise in gut bacteria. However I have had a life-long interest in science, and my query is in regard to her last paragraph in which she summaries her article.

Half way through the article , she says that mice who had been ‘ treated ‘ with bad stomach bugs got fat , but when they subsequently ingested good stomach bugs they stopped getting fat, but only if they were on a healthy diet.

So I suggest that it is diet, not stomach bugs, that affect your weight and health.

Or if you prefer, good diet gives you good stomach bugs. Adding probiotics or good bugs only helps if you already have a healthy diet, and they are not a ‘quick fix’ to allow you to continue with a poor diet.

This is a very new field of research , and while the American government is pouring a huge amount of money into it not all experts are as enthusiastic as some researchers. If I remember correctly (not guaranteed at my age, unfortunately), it has been claimed that good gut bacteria has cured autism in mice.

I agree with the cynic who questioned whether mice get autism!

As for Professor Ian Lowe’s “The Lucky Country”, our science denying politicians should turn off their computers, televisions, electricity, park their cars and crawl back into their caves. Where do they think our modern way of life comes from?

Bob Roobottom

Taree