Our gut microbes are under siege. For starters, they flourish on fiber yet sugar and fat are more likely to be on our plates. Perhaps even more unpalatable is the onslaught of additives, artificial sweeteners and domestic hygiene products—chemicals mostly introduced in the last century. While … [Read more...] about Additives May Change Gut Microbes
Microbiome Environment
Gut Feeling: More than a Hunch
The gut microbiome has an intriguing relationship to mental health. Communication along the gut-brain axis is strongly implicated in depression and anxiety in animal models. Attempts to replicate rodent study outcomes in humans are encouraging. In one study, a strain of bifidobacterium … [Read more...] about Gut Feeling: More than a Hunch
Low Carbohydrate Diet: Do Microbes Lose?
Restricting carbohydrates is a perennial favorite among dieters. Going without sugary beverages and desserts is surely a positive move. Then again stringent followers also eliminate most fruits, vegetables and whole grains, foods which are rich in nutrients. How this diet plays out on the gut … [Read more...] about Low Carbohydrate Diet: Do Microbes Lose?
Put Miso in Your 2020 Menus
Adding miso to meals not only adds intense flavor but also the health benefits of fermentation. But for many, miso as an ingredient can be daunting. It doesn’t have to be. Here is a simple primer: Miso is made by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (the fungus Aspergillus oryzae) and … [Read more...] about Put Miso in Your 2020 Menus
Probiotic Yeast Inhibits Gut Cancer in Mice
Bacteria may get most of the attention in the probiotic space, but yeasts can also be powerful in their benefits. Saccharomyces boulardii and the gut One well-characterized yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) can be beneficial in gut disorders. Several pre-clinical and clinical … [Read more...] about Probiotic Yeast Inhibits Gut Cancer in Mice
Probiotics and Diet Fight Dysbiosis in Obesity
As a new year begins, resolutions to shed the added weight from holiday feasting are de rigeur. New avenues of accomplishing those goals are growing. Obesity and Aging For example, much research points to the gut microbiota as a key element in metabolic disorders such as obesity. … [Read more...] about Probiotics and Diet Fight Dysbiosis in Obesity