Woman Denied Liver Transplant Due to Alcoholism—but She Hadn’t Had a Drop to Drink

Odd Phenomenon

The syndrome flares up when “gut disturbances” like antibiotic use allow fermenting fungi or bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract to grow uncontrollably. When a person with this type of auto-brewery syndrome consumes carbs like bread, pasta, pizza, or sugary drinks, the fermenting microbes turn into ethanol—leading to “extreme blood alcohol levels.”

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The More You Know

  • Beavers have transparent eyelids so they can see underwater.
  • The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated the same year Nintendo was founded.
  • During World War 2, a bear named Wotjek joined the Polish army. He carried ammunition and occasionally drank beer.
  • War pigs were used in ancient warfare to counter against war elephants, which feared the pigs (and their squeals) and would bolt. War pigs were sometimes lit on fire to enhance this effect.
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