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.
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.
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.
Focus on Fermented Foods: are they good Fer you?
9 Dec 2021by Elena Verdú, Mark Wulczynski, Premysl Bercik
“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” Ancient Ayurvedic proverb
Is it time to include safe, live microorganisms as components of a balanced diet?
23 Jun 2021by Mary Ellen Sanders
Scientists agree that having a gut microbiota that is in ‘good shape’ is a crucial component of individual health and well-being. Although exactly how ‘good shape’ is defined is not so clear, many experts recommend consuming more live dietary microbes through including fermented foods that retain live microbial components.
This year’s research has brought to light many interesting advances in the field of gut health and has unveiled some of the microbiota’s secrets. We have discussed the impact of diet, immunity, fermented foods, the characteristics of gut health, and of course we also covered COVID-19. So, can you guess what GMFH’s 10 most popular articles of 2020 were?
What do we know about the role of fermented foods on the gut microbiota?
17 Dec 2020by Andreu Prados
Fermented foods are an increasing focus of interest for both scientists and consumers. Few modern foods are a significant source of live microbes, and fermented foods can be the exception. What do we know about how those dietary microbes impact our gut microbiota and our health?
Fermented foods are trendy and consuming them is good for your gut health. Learn more about the science behind fermented foods, their beneficial effects, and why not all qualify as probiotics.
What’s the relationship between fermented food consumption, gut microbiota and health?
11 Nov 2020by Andreu Prados
A new study of 6,811 subjects from the American Gut Project, led by Rob Knight explores in depth how fermented foods impact gut microbiota composition and function.