A significant difference exists between the fecal microbiota of hospital-born infants versus home-born infants, and the differences persist well into the first month of life. The study included 35 vaginally born, breast-fed neonates, 14 who were delivered at home and 21 who were delivered in the hospital. Eight maternal and infant feces samples were collected, as […]
Spain is predicted to have the longest average life expectancy in the world at 85.8 years by 2040. Why? While diet plays a big role – the Spanish typically follow a Mediterranean diet with a large rotation of seasonal vegetables and fruits – so do social and familial relationships, which are at the center of Spanish […]
Could probiotics be a lot of wishful thinking? Extensive reviews of the existing probiotic literature show that probiotics are really effective for just three conditions – infectious diarrhea, post-antibiotic diarrhea in children, and a rare gastrointestinal disease called necrotizing enterocolitis. In addition, studies show probiotics may be ineffective in altering gut bacteria composition or diversity long-term. Nutrition […]
Lifestyle changes reduced the need for blood pressure medication in just 16 weeks. 129 men and women with high blood pressure engaged in 1 of the following programs: 1) diet plus a weight loss program including 3 exercise sessions per week, 2) diet only, and 3) no changes in diet or lifestyle. After 16 weeks, researchers […]
What you eat alters your genes and those of your children. A new study reviews maternal diets during pregnancy and how maternal nutrient status and intake can cause epigenetic (environmental effects on gene expression) changes that increase obesity risk and other disease risk in offspring. Frontiers in Genetics →Takeaway: Nutrition is THE most important environmental factor that can […]
Stress and autoimmune disease are closely linked. An extensive study spanning 30 years and including over 100,000 study subjects found that individuals diagnosed with stress-related disorders were also 30 to 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder (including Crohn’s disease and celiac disease). Researchers also found that those patients diagnosed with PTSD […]
Low fiber diets lead to gut bacteria extinction and have lasting effects on gut microbes in current and future generations. Mice studies show that when switching to a low-fiber diet for just 7 weeks, 60% of gut bacteria species dwindle dramatically and remain low even after reintroducing a high-fiber diet. In addition, as generation after generation […]
Early life antibiotic exposure shows no association with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A recent study including all live births in Manitoba, Canada between 1998 and 2016 looked at antibiotic exposure (defined as having filled one or more antibiotic prescriptions in the first year of life) and ASD diagnosis. The study found that antibiotic exposure (both number […]
Could your gut bacteria make you smarter (or not so smart)? Recent studies show overwhelming evidence that the microbial communities living within our gut play a central role in brain function and development, behavior, and even cognition, including learning and memory. A recent paper outlines how advances in microbial research can be utilized to understand individual […]
Want to slow down the aging process, live longer, feel younger? Eat less. Partial results from the most comprehensive study on calorie restriction (a 2-year randomized controlled trial including 200+ healthy adults looking at the effects of calorie restriction on metabolism) in humans and its effect on slowing the aging process have just been released. Tests […]