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Japanese Guts Are Made For Sushi

cremeglace writes "Americans don't have the guts for sushi. At least that's the implication of a new study, which finds that Japanese people harbor enzymes in their intestinal bacteria that help them digest seaweed, enzymes that North Americans lack. What's more, Japanese may have first acquired these enzymes by eating bacteria that thrive on seaweed in the open ocean."

14 of 309 comments (clear)

  1. Re:You'll take my sushi ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ... from my cold, dead digestive tract!

    I take it you've been eating Fugu?

  2. Breaking news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Nation eating fish has digestive system which adjusted to eating fish. What a surprise!

    In our next show: People Jump Better After Training To Jump!

  3. No enzymes, eh? by ibsteve2u · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, I'll be; and here I thought my brief illness on an Okinawan beach resulted from my consuming budweiser and salty dogs all night and then passing out on the beach - and failing to wake up when the sun came up.

    It wasn't alcohol, heat stroke, or the incandescent sunburn - it was the seaweed from that piece of sushi I had the day before!

    --
    Orwell: "In a Time of Universal Deceit, telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act"
  4. Re:Am i missing something? by Cylix · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not a biologist nor in any sense of the word am I qualified to answer your question. However, I feel that I might be able to lend some perspective on that matter that might otherwise be useful in gaining a firmer level of comprehension on the issue at hand.

    Onto the question regarding the transfer of some of the bacteria from mother to child I'm almost certain that someone may be able to shed some light on this puzzle.

    As noted earlier, I'm almost nearly certain that I am in no way shape or form the person who could assist in this conundrum.

    Don't hesitate to ask should you require further assistance.

    --
    "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
  5. Re:Ammo for Racism by outsider007 · · Score: 5, Funny

    This sort of incomplete research just feeds the view of racial uniqueness (and superiority) among Japanese and justifies their racism and discrimination against others.

    They can keep their ability to digest seaweed.
    I'll just try to get by on my > 4" weiner.

    --
    If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
  6. BREAKING NEWS... by linzeal · · Score: 4, Funny

    Killer Whale guts are made for Japanese, story at 11.

  7. Re:population sample by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Czjzek's team compared the microbial genomes of 13 Japanese people with those of 18 North Americans.

    If I used this many test subjects in my job I would get fired.

    They don't even let me use test subjects in my job. Even after assuring them that most won't die.

  8. Re:You'll take my sushi ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Captain Fugu, is that you???

  9. strange diet by CaptainNerdCave · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll just try to get by on my > 4" weiner.

    That seems like an odd diet, I hope it serves you well.

    1. Re:strange diet by outsider007 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Your mother swears by it.

      --
      If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
    2. Re:strange diet by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 2, Funny

      How is she able to swear with her mouth full?

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  10. Re:Bowel obstruction by voodoo+cheesecake · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some with weaker constitutions would flinch, but I'd give you a mod point if I had any at the moment. As an Alaska'n fisherman, let me tell you that North Pacific bull kelp will rip you up pretty good, but I mix mine with jelly fish for that extra zing! Prepare your bull kelp and brown snot looking jelly fish with vinegar and high voltage, about 30kV or so should do the trick - just enough to evaporate it within a minute. Any longer than that and it starts to get a funny after taste.. Once it has cooled, sprinkle it on smoked tuna or sockeye salmon. Wash it down with orange Jolt and Bacardi 151 - of course, you should only do this on shore at the local tavern. Feel free to experiment with other beverages suitable to your taste if you want to whimp out.

  11. Re:Stomach cancer by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if that bacteria is the reason for the blurry qualities of genitals in Japan.

    --
    Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
  12. These Guts Were Made For Sushi... by Radical+Moderate · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cue Nancy Sinatra in 5...4...3...2...1

    --
    Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.