Review – 9/12/17

1. Never underestimate the power of broccoli – now shown to have therapeutic benefits in preventing and reversing intestinal inflammation. Dietary broccoli positively impacted gut flora, decreased gut inflammation, and diminished chemically induced colitis in mice. Journal of Functional Foods

 

2. Looking to test the health of your gut microbiome? You may want to wait. While studies show an association between the gut microbiota and disease, it’s still unclear whether microbial alterations cause disease or vice versa. In addition, incredible variations exist when defining what constitutes a “healthy” microbiome. As one of the leading researchers in the field, Dr. Rob Knight states, analyzing your microbiome is “very much a science project, not a diagnostic test.” New York Times

 

3. Physical activity protects against and reverses disease in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. For every 1,000-steps/day increase, liver fat decreased by 0.87% – a testament to how small increases in daily activity can have a big impact on health. European Congress on Obesity

 

4. Antibiotics are to blame for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). While antibiotics might initially relieve symptoms, they may make your infection more likely to return and more difficult to eradicate. For natural solutions to UTIs, check out Dr. Chutkan’s book The Microbiome Solution. Popular Science

 

5. Scientifically proven causes of colorectal cancer (CRC) includes processed meat consumption, daily alcohol consumption of 2 or more drinks, and being overweight. The study concludes that 47% of CRC can be prevented by healthy lifestyle changes. World Cancer Research Fund International

 

6. Slowing down the growth of bacteria, instead of destroying them may be a more effective way to fight bacterial infections without triggering bacterial adaptations and antibiotic resistance. National Academy of Sciences

 

7. Good news! Antibiotic use and spending are declining in the United States. The number of antibiotic prescriptions filled between 2010 and 2016 dropped by 9% overall, and 13% for broad-spectrum antibiotics. U.S. spending on antibiotics from 2010 to 2015 decreased by 22. 6%. Clinical Infectious Diseases

 

8. The link between the gut and mental health (including behavior!) just got bigger. In a recent study, scientists found that elements that control gene expression called miRNAs, are down regulated in germ free mice. Microbiome

 

9. Analysis of the Hadza (a hunter-gatherer population in Tanzania) tribe’s gut microbiome shows that gut flora varies with the seasons. While other studies have shown a seasonal shift in the microbiome, this is the first to show an annual cycle. Science

 

10. Herbal therapy is equivalent to antibiotics in treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. A reminder that when treating dysbiosis, antibiotics take a back seat to natural approaches. While symptoms may subside initially with antibiotics, they often exacerbate the problem in the long-term. Try dietary alterations and herbal therapy for lasting relief (Live Dirty, Eat Clean!). Global Advances in Health & Medicine

 

By: Leslie Ann Berg, MSPH