Gutbliss Weekly Review – January 1, 2016

 

1. Olive oil and red wine fight against clogged arteries, but how? They both contain a compound that blocks the production of TMA, a gut bacteria waste product produced when we eat red meat, which increases heart disease risk. This could explain the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Cell

 

2. Exercising early in life results in superior microbial health and brain function (when compared to sedentary and adult counterparts), lasting throughout one’s life. Researchers believe the earlier exercise is introduced, the better. Nature

 

3. Imbalanced gut bacteria share a causal relationship with hypertension (induced by obstructive sleep apnea). Researchers hypothesize that altering the gut microbiome may be a viable treatment option for all causes of hypertension. American Heart Association

 

4. Infant colic explained! Infants with symptoms of colic have specific microbial characteristics – including lower bacterial diversity, higher amounts of Proteobacteria, and an inverse relationship between Actinobacteria Bifidobacterium and Firmicute Lactobacilli and amount of crying. Choose vaginal delivery, avoid antibiotics, and breastfeed whenever possible to optimize infant microbial health. Biological Research for Nursing

 

5. Do you suffer from constipation during vacation? Stress, dehydration, change in diet, and avoiding the urge to go are a few explanations to why, but it boils down to one simple fact – Leaving your “general habitat” alters your gut bacteria! To get things moving next time you travel, practice Dr. Chutkan’s 1, 2, 3 Rule. The Atlantic

 

6. Bloated IBS patients possess a distinct microbiome, one quite different from healthy individuals and from IBS patients without bloating. These findings may provide biomarkers for IBS, helpful in diagnosing symptoms and disease. American Journal of Physiology

 

7. A new study suggests that slow transit time in the small intestines may lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (or SIBO, a form of dysbiosis). Get things moving in 2016! The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology

 

8. Before the age of two, 80% of children in a South Asian village are infected by the protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, with a direct relationship between the severity of the infection and diarrhea. When one million children worldwide die before the age of 5 from diarrhea yearly, this is a big deal. The Journal of Infectious Diseases

 

9. To address the “scientific integrity” of how the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are established, congress calls for an in-depth review of the process. Washington Post

 

10. How do MRE’s (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) affect our soldier’s gut bacteria? Join the Army’s 21-day study and find out! CNN

 

11. With all this talk about gut bacteria, follow these 3 steps to restore your microbiome and improve your overall health! Gutbliss

 

By: Leslie Ann Berg, MSPH