Washing dishes by hand, instead of by dishwasher, decreases food allergies in children, and the benefits increase when families eat food directly from the farm. Pediatrics Scientists request international efforts for microbiome research. Yet some scientists are skeptical, including University of Michigan microbiologist, Pat Schloss, who tweeted, “We have a global effort. It’s […]
“Drop a bunch of kale into your cart and you’re more likely to head next to the ice cream or beer section. The more “virtuous” products you have in your basket, the stronger your temptation to succumb to vice,” says Alex Hutchinson in his New York Times Op-ed, How Salad Can Make Us Fat, which […]
1). “I don’t think we will survive another 1,000 years without escaping beyond our fragile planet.” (Steven Hawking) But will our microbes survive beyond earth? A NASA study hopes to shed light on this very important question CNET 2). A Fitbit for your digestive tract? Sensors that spend time in your digestive tract and […]
A fascinating study published in Microbial Ecology took a close look at the bacteria in the feces of 19 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 20 healthy controls. They found remarkable differences between the two groups: fecal samples in people with CRC showed signs of an imbalanced microbiome, with higher levels of pathogens and lower […]
1. Colon cancer linked to specific gut bacteria. Altering the specific gut bacteria associated with cancers may be a viable strategy for treatment and prevention American Society of Human Genetics 2015 Meeting 2. Bank your stool and preserve your health. This cutting-edge medical therapy could be a real fix for microbial depletion and a plausible way to achieve […]
In his October 9th New York Times Op-ed, Moises Velasquez-Manoff asks the question: “Why [aren’t] doctors [working] harder to prevent [the collateral damage of antibiotics], not with store-bought probiotics, but with ‘microbial restoration’?” The microbial restoration he’s referring to is the process of using your own stool (autologous fecal transplant) to recolonize your gut when […]
When I was pregnant with my daughter I planned for a natural birth. But as luck would have it, I tested positive for group B strep (GBS) and was told I would need IV antibiotics before delivery to protect my daughter from the risk of serious infection. Like most people, I was unaware that antibiotics […]
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 15-20% of Americans and is the most common GI condition, yet we still don’t know what causes it. The medical community often categorizes IBS symptoms as stress-related, but a recent study shows that although stress may be a contributing factor, gut bacteria play an important, and maybe even causative role. […]
Almost 1 in 5 Americans use laxatives regularly, but not all laxatives (or laxative users!) are the same. Stimulant laxatives – the most popular kind– may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), while fiber laxatives may reduce the risk. A study from Washington State recently validated this concept when they found […]
A decrease in libido is a natural part of aging, but in my gastroenterology practice, a lot of the women who are having bedroom issues are in their 20s and 30s. If you’re bloated and also not in the mood, there may be a connection between the two! Anatomically, the bowels your digestive tract and […]