About Cristina Sáez

Cristina Saez is a freelance science journalist. She coordinates the science section of the newspaper ARA and writes for several media, such as National Geographic Magazine, research centers, and scientific societies. She has been awarded for her journalistic work with some awards, such as the Boehringer Ingelheim, the Roche Foundation, Accenture, or Concha Garcia Campoy Awards, all in Medical Journalism. She is the author of "La ciencia de microbiota" (Cúpula, 2022) and "Siempre adelante", the memoirs of the Cardiologist Valentí Fuster (Cúpula, 2024). Follow Cristina on Bluesky @crisaez.bsky.social

Fiber and cancer prevention: what science says

26 Feb 2025

by Cristina Sáez

A new study reveals that consuming fiber-rich foods can play a crucial role in cancer prevention. The research shows that some products of fiber digestion by gut microbiota, such as butyrate and propionate, can alter gene expression and exert anti-tumor effects. These findings highlight the importance of including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts in our daily diet to support long-term health.

The fundamental role of gut bacteria in overall health has been recognized for years. Imbalances in its composition have been linked to autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and metabolic diseases, and now also to cardiovascular conditions. Increasingly, scientists are studying the gut-heart axis and suggest that the gut microbiota could become a new therapeutic target for preventing and treating heart diseases.

What’s in the sandwich you are eating?

16 Oct 2024

by Cristina Sáez

For the first time, a European group of researchers have analyzed the microbiome of more than 2,500 different types of foods. The insights gained will help better identify good and bad ‘bugs’ and improve the quality and safety of existing products. Additionally, the research sheds light on the influence of food microbiome on our own gut microbiome and overall health.

The microbial colonization of a baby's gut is primarily influenced by the mother's vaginal microbiota during birth and by breast milk. Two new studies have found for the first time that fathers also contribute to the establishment of the baby's microbiota, which could have health implications.

Two hospitals in Barcelona, the Clínic and Bellvitge, have launched Spain's first Fecal Microbiota Bank. Their goal is to obtain donations of stool from healthy individuals to perform microbiota transplants on patients suffering from potentially fatal infections of bacteria known as C. difficile infections. We step into the fecal microbiota transfer units of both hospitals to learn how they operate and meet some of the donors.

We have a real jungle in the colon!

13 Mar 2024

by Cristina Sáez

The bacteria that make up our gut microbiota lead a very active social life: they communicate and collaborate with each other, but also compete and keep each other in check. To a great extent, our health depends on this communication between them and with our cells. Hence, understanding how they relate to each other will be key to advancing toward the personalized medicine of the future.

An international team of scientists has studied diaper samples of nearly 650 healthy 1-year-old babies for 5 years and has discovered 10,000 species of viruses, most of them unknown until now. Far from causing children to be sick, those viruses are thought to be true allies, playing an important role in protecting us from chronic diseases.

The gut microbiota influences sports performance and resilience after physical exercise. Also, practicing moderate exercise on a regular basis results in a healthier bacterial composition and, therefore, better physical and mental health.

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