Bifidobacteria are increasingly studied as a marker of gut health across a lifetime. In this interview, microbiome researcher Sudarshan Shetty explains what shapes them, how they change with age, and what diet can do.
What do we mean when we talk about the gastrointestinal system? Understanding the foundations of digestive health
26 May 2026by Giovana Martucelli
Digestive health goes beyond digestion. This overview revisits the gastrointestinal system, including how it functions, the role of the gut microbiota, and its connections with other organs in shaping overall health.
The gut microbiota “signature”: the key to the Mediterranean diet’s role in slowing cognitive decline
22 Apr 2026by Cristina Sáez
The Mediterranean diet is once again at the center of scientific evidence. A new study, published in BMC Medicine, shows that this dietary pattern not only protects cardiovascular and metabolic health, but also helps preserve cognitive function with age.
Why gluten and wheat may not be the dietary villains driving IBS symptoms
25 Nov 2025by Andreu Prados
Although the underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unclear, many people with IBS believe they are sensitive to gluten or wheat. A new study finds gluten and wheat are safe for many people with IBS, and the culprit might be something else.
What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut: the gut-organ axes at work
25 Jun 2025by GMFH Editing Team
Emerging studies support the relationship between the human gut microbiome and organ function outside the gut. Find out more about the knowns and unknowns on how the gut communicates with other parts of the body, involving the gut, the brain, the lungs, the skin, and even the heart, and why it matters to your health.
How what you eat, the medications you take, and where you live shape your gut microbiota
11 Jun 2025by Giovana Martucelli
Over two intense days of conference, specialists shared the latest research findings and their experiences in both research and clinical practice, exploring how everyday factors influence the composition of the gut microbiota and impact our health. Here, we bring you the key insights from the event.
Growing evidence from the microbiome field shows that harnessing gut microbes through diet can beneficially impact brain and behaviour. Which gut microbiome-targeted interventions have been studied as potential approaches for mental health?
Is there a disconnect between how your brain and gut communicate in IBS?
2 Apr 2024by Andreu Prados
Experiencing that sinking feeling in your gut when anxiety kicks in or feeling butterflies in your stomach when you fall in love are visible signals of the brain-gut connection. Emerging evidence suggests understanding the microbiota-gut-brain axis could be the missing key in managing IBS.
Gut fungi have effects beyond the gut through the gut-brain axis
14 Feb 2024by Rene van den Wijngaard, Andreu Prados
Most research on the role of gut microbiota in the gut-brain axis has focused on bacteria, while fungi living inside the gut have been overlooked. What do we know about the role of gut fungi in the communication between the gut and the brain?
Scientists found an intriguing link between anorexia nervosa and the gut microbiota
27 Nov 2023by Mónica Quinzo
Anorexia nervosa is a common eating disorder in adolescent women, which has no successful treatment. New findings in humans and mice have found new links between an altered gut microbiota, appetite, and regulation of body weight in anorexia nervosa.
