December 19, 2019 • Live Genki

MICROBIOMES

How Mucus Tames Microbes

Most of us think of mucus as little more than slimy and somewhat yucky stuff that’s easily ignored until you come down with a cold like the one I just had. But, when it comes to our health, there’s much more to mucus than you might think.

https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2019/12/19/how-mucus-tames-microbes/

Mouth Microbes, The Helpful and the Harmful

Do you know what’s in your mouth? It’s home to about 700 species of microbes. These include germs like bacteria, fungus, and more.

Probiotic Bacteria Block Harmful Microbe

Your body is home to thousands of species of bacteria and other microbes. Many live in the intestine, or gut. Microbes interact in the gut in complex ways. They can be helpful, neutral, or harmful depending on the conditions in your gut, which affect microbes’ growth and activity.

Disrupting the Gut Microbiome

The normal human gut microbiome is a flourishing community of microorganisms, some of which can affect the human immune system.

Food Additives Alter Gut Microbes

The digestive tract is home to 100 trillion bacteria. Collectively known as the gut microbiota, these bacteria help with metabolism and maintaining a healthy immune system. Changes in this microbial community can cause chronic diseases.

Prebiotic Dietary Fiber

Prebiotic dietary fibers act as carbon sources for primary and secondary fermentation pathways in the colon, and support digestive health in many ways. Fructooligosaccharides, inulin, and galactooligosaccharides are universally agreed-upon prebiotics.

The Gut Microbiome (Video)

Humans and many other animals are home to enormous numbers of beneficial bacteria that profoundly influence health. The existence of beneficial resident microorganisms was first recognized in the late 1800's by Louis Pasteur, who founded the field of medical microbiology. However, we’ve only recently begun to acquire a molecular understanding of how resident microorganisms contribute to our health. The Hooper lab has spent more than a decade studying how resident bacteria of the gut communicate with our own cells to shape our physiology, our development, and our ability to fight infectious disease.

Watch: https://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?Live=18564&bhcp=1

Keeping Your Gut in Check

Your digestive system is busy. When you eat something, your food takes a twisty trip that starts with being chewed up and ends with you going to the bathroom. A lot happens in between. The health of your gut plays a key role in your overall health and well-being. You can make choices to help your body stay on tract.

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2017/05/keeping-your-gut-check

4 Fast Facts about the Gut-Brain Connection

There’s a bacterial population that lives in your intestine called the gut microbiota. Unique to each individual, the gut microbiota consists of tens of trillions of microorganisms and can weigh up to six pounds.

Gut-Brain Axis

The bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and gut microbiota, referred to as the gut-brain-axis, has been of significant interest in recent years. Increasing evidence has associated gut microbiota to both gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal diseases.

Influence on Diet

Recent studies have suggested that the intestinal microbiome plays an important role in modulating risk of several chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

NIH does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services.

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