#gut-microbiome

#gut-microbiome

There are microbes living in medicine cabinets across the U.S., next to the aspirin and the Band-Aids. And people want them there. Indeed, consumers probably paid good money for them. Probiotics are capsules or pills with live microorganismsalmost always bacteria or yeastthat are supposed to confer health benefits once people swallow them. Some of my friends, including a woman who was recently treated for cancer and a man with persistent digestive issues, bought the pills at the recommendation of doctors.

A research project supported by FAPESP and carried out at Harvard University in the United States has identified a set of metabolites that move from the intestine to the liver and then on to the heart, which distributes them throughout the body. These circulating compounds appear to influence how metabolic pathways function within the liver and how sensitive the body is to insulin. The findings point to potential new strategies for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Not petulant tantrums, not the ego's defensive rage, but the fierce love that refuses to tolerate injustice. You will be wise to draw on the righteous "No!" that draws boundaries and defends the vulnerable. I hope you will call on protective fury on behalf of those who need help. Here's a reminder of what I'm sure you know: Calmness in the face of cruelty isn't enlightenment but complicity. Your anger, when it safeguards and serves love rather than destroys, is a spiritual practice.

As a banana ripens, its nutritional content - the amount of sugar, starch, and vitamins - changes. Meaning, if you need more sugar before a workout, or less sugar because of diabetes, you may want to eat your banana at a certain ripeness level. Ahead, registered dietitians share the various ripeness levels, what a banana looks like at each stage, and the health conditions or goals that are best addressed at each level of ripeness.

For years, researchers have suspected that excess sugar in food and drinks can cause depression. One reason it was suspected was because people with diabetes have an increased incidence of depression that is beyond what would be expected only from the challenges of dealing with a chronic illness. Having diabetes is associated with two to three times the rate of depression compared to the general population.

But for how casually and frequently we reference the gut, few of us know exactly how it works, why it sometimes doesn't or much about its intimate relationship with the brain. Even medical experts have only recently come to appreciate the microbiome's connection to mood, anxiety and neurodegenerative disease. That's because the microbiome is a complex community comprised of trillions of microbes - and every single gut is unique to the specific person. It's an ecosystem as mysterious to us as the deep ocean, or outer space or the brain...which it evidently shares a "communication highway" with.

The FDA released a new scientific analysis Friday, concluding that fluoride supplements have limited benefits for children's teeth and may be linked to emerging safety concerns, including gut issues, weight gain and cognition. For the same reason fluoride may work to kill bacteria on teeth, it may also alter the gut microbiome, which may have broader health implications, the agency said in a statement.

During her final year she died on 19 August 2024 she was verified as the oldest living person, a feat that drew the attention of researchers who explore the biology of ageing. We wanted to learn from her particular case to benefit other people, says Manel Esteller, a physician specializing in genetics at the University of Barcelona in Spain. At the time, Branyas was living in the small town of Olot, in the Catalonia region of Spain, where she enjoyed reading books, playing with dogs

While many of us assume that diet is the only way to feed the trillions of microorganisms (including bacteria, fungi and viruses) that make up the microbiome, there are myriad daily habits that can help nurture this important part of the body. Diet often takes centre stage in discussions about the gut microbiome, and rightly so it plays a major role, says Dr Emily Leeming, a scientist, dietitian and research fellow at King's College London, and author of Genius Gut.

By looking after his gut microbiome, the trillions of microbes that live in the colon lining and impact overall health, he's also lowering his risk of colon cancer, which is rising in people under 50. Research has linked eating plant foods such as vegetables, nuts, and beans to a diverse microbiome, which is an indicator of good gut health, and a lower colon cancer risk. While ultra-processed foods, including processed red meats such as hot dogs and salami, have been linked to less diversity and a higher risk.

The landmark study revealed that more than 75 percent of the babies were deficient in crucial gut bacteria vital for a healthy microbiome.

There are differences in Alzheimer's patients and their gut microbiota, and that's been verified by many groups now. Prior research has shown that when you make changes in the gut microbiota of Alzheimer model mice, you in turn have effects on the pathology of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's - amyloid plaques and tau accumulation.

Fourteen women with fibromyalgia received an experimental therapy involving gut bacteria from healthy women, finding that most experienced symptom improvements in pain, anxiety, and sleep.