The topic for World Microbiome Day 2024 is “Feed your microbes”. We have interviewed scientists about the knowns and unknowns of what is a healthy gut microbiome and the current level of application of microbiome-directed personalized nutrition to healthcare.
Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut are dietary staples for many cultures worldwide. Now scientists understand better how eating these foods as part of a balanced diet may contribute to improving gut health.
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?
What lies beneath a dirty diaper? (Spoiler: thousands of unknown allied viruses!)
15 Nov 2023by Cristina Sáez
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.
Is it time to consider the gut microbiota in an attempt to keep bones healthy?
16 Nov 2022by Andreu Prados
Changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with conditions that cause bone loss or increase fracture risk. Learn more about the role of the gut microbiota in bone health and what today’s science says about the manipulation of the gut microbiota by oral probiotics to prevent bone loss.
Early exposure to air pollution linked to negative changes in infant gut microbiota
25 Oct 2022by Cristina Sáez
Inhaling air pollutants during the first 6 months of life could affect a baby’s intestinal bacteria, causing changes in its composition associated with a higher risk of developing allergies, obesity and diabetes, and even influence brain development, concludes a new study.
What is bifidobacteria’s role in establishing a healthy infant gut microbiome and immune system?
20 Jun 2022by Andreu Prados
The role of the infant gut microbiome in immunological development is largely mediated by bifidobacteria. This article updates what factors affect bifidobacteria colonization in the gut and why bifidobacteria are relevant for infants, and reveals the groups of infants that will benefit from supplementation with bifidobacterial.
Researchers turn to the gut-lung connection in the search for a treatment for COVID-19
23 Mar 2022by Andreu Prados
Emerging evidence about COVID-19 associates the gut-lung connection with the long-term complications of the virus. This article updates what we know so far about how manipulating the gut microbiota plays a role in improving respiratory outcomes and, in particular, the symptoms and severity of COVID-19.
Learn how your gut microbiota changes as you age and what you can do to be healthier and live longer by taking care of your gut microbes.
