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gut bacteria

08/05/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Psychobiotics: Intestinal bacteria that improve your mental health

Here’s a quick question: how much do the bacteria in your gut weigh? The answer is three pounds, although the number can go up to more than four. That’s a lot of bacteria! Given this figure, it isn’t so surprising that your gut microbiome, the bacteria population in your intestines, can have a considerable impact […]

06/06/2018 / By Carol Anderson

A low-fiber diet can decrease healthy gut bacteria by 60%

There are at least 1,000 different kinds of bacteria and 40 million microbial cells found in our gut. A balance in the gut microbiome is really vital to keep not just our physical health well, but also our mental and emotional well-being. To be able to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, it […]

04/19/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Brain-gut connection determines how we respond to stressful situations… junk food makes for a junk mind

“You are what you eat” might be an overused phrase, but there’s quite a bit of truth to it, particularly when it comes to your brain. According to a paper published in the journal Physiology, the signals from your gut to your brain have a strong influence on your behaviors and emotions, especially during threatening […]

01/14/2018 / By Earl Garcia

Probiotics fight depression: Healthy gut bacteria found to reduce symptoms

Taking probiotics to improve intestinal health may come with a bonus, as a new animal study revealed that the beneficial gut bacteria may also reduce depressive tendencies. A team of researchers at the Aarhus University in Denmark examined the effects of lactic acid bacteria in rat models as part of the study. The rats were divided […]

11/13/2017 / By Michelle Simmons

Healthy gut found to reduce effects of trauma: Study explains the link between the gut microbiome and PTSD

A new study found that a healthy gut can lessen the effects of trauma, as reported by Science Daily. Researchers from Stellenbosch University analyzed the relationship of gut microbiome and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They compared the gut microbiomes of 18 individuals with PTSD to 12 people who also experienced trauma, but did not develop PSTD. […]

10/30/2017 / By Rhonda Johansson

Some gut microbes may be “stealing” your nutrition before you can absorb it

Our gut microbes compete with each other for nutrients, which may consequently lead to us having a nutritional deficiency. Apparently, our digestive system follows a “dog eat dog” world, with intestinal bacteria hoarding vital minerals, leaving us only with their leftovers or their waste. This was the alarming deduction made by a team of scientists […]

10/10/2017 / By Rhonda Johansson

Your probiotics might not be enough unless you’re also taking PREbiotics, expert warns

A professor of microbiology and pathology at Colorado State University warns that taking probiotics means diddly squat if you don’t supplement them with prebiotics. Ian Orme describes the prevailing assumption that probiotics taken by themselves can improve health as just “dodgy” and unrealistic. He claims that the practice is essentially useless as gastric acid kills […]

10/06/2017 / By Isabelle Z.

Scientists discover breakthrough method for engineering gut bacteria to treat certain health conditions

Even though many people associate bacteria with illness, they actually have a symbiotic relationship with humans wherein they help us and we help them. In fact, the gastrointestinal tract is almost like an auxiliary central nervous system, “talking” to other parts of the body using a chemical language that is transmitted molecularly. Now, researchers at […]

09/20/2017 / By Russel Davis

Imbalanced gut microbes found to precede Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis… is the GUT changing neuromuscular control?

A recent study published in Movement Disorders revealed that changes in gut bacterial communities may serve as an early indicator of Parkinson’s disease. It was previously inferred that the debilitating neurological disease may be caused by outside factors. According to the “dual hit” hypothesis, an unknown pathogen may enter the human body through the nose or the […]

08/31/2017 / By Isabelle Z.

Certain probiotics found to improve athletic performance

If you’ve been training for marathon after marathon only to find that you struggle to keep up with the rest of the pack, it could be that you lack a certain gut bacteria that is giving the winners an edge. High-profile athletes across a wide range of disciplines, from Usain Bolt to Roger Federer to […]

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