The Gutbliss Weekly Review – June 20, 2016

1. Your hometown climate could help determine whether you have a microbiome associated with obesity or leanness. In mice, a gut microbiome adapted to a cold climate (~53 degrees Fahrenheit) undergoes changes that help protect the host against obesity, improving energy metabolism. Cell Metabolism

 

2. Tonsillectomy is linked to Crohn’s disease. But frequent antibiotic use, which often precedes tonsillectomy, not the surgery itself itself, may actually be the real risk factor for Crohn’s. Journal for Gastroenterology & Hepatology

 

3. Triclosan, a common chemical in antibacterial household and personal care products, is linked to pre-term birth and low birth weight. Use EWG’s personal care and cleaning product databases, and my 2015 product wish list, as your guides to avoiding antibacterial products and other harmful chemicals that can disrupt the microbiome. Science Direct

 

4. Should you be concerned about antibiotics in your food? Here’s the science behind the debate. While reducing antibiotic use in humans is our main concern for promoting microbial health, foods that contain antibiotics should be avoided to further reduce the risk of exposure to pathogenic, antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Authority Nutrition

 

5. A complete lifestyle transformation may be more effective than implementing small lifestyle changes over time. Abrupt transformations positively affect happiness, mood, self-esteem, stress levels, and cognition for a period of time following the drastic shift, compared to small changes over time. Is “go big or go home” the only way to go when making positive health changes? Gutbliss says, not exactly. If you’re not up for a major shift, small shifts, like adding more veggies into your diet, can have an important impact on overall health, and are definitely better than no shift at all. New York Times

 

6. “Exposing kids to unnecessary antibiotics decreases complexity, stability, and richness of the microbiome”. A lead researcher explains, “In most cases, ear infections and common colds are caused by viruses; antibiotics don’t do any good, and end up wiping out some of the microbial populations necessary to maintain immune and gut health.” The judicious use of antibiotics in infants and children is a necessity when considering long-term health. Quartz

 

7. C-sections and antibiotic exposure early in life are merely “waves” that rock the “microbiome boat,” but they may not have long-term negative effects on health, one critic says. While there’s no direct causation between microbial disruption early in life and increased disease risk, strong links are evident. It’s true that some may recover from these waves and the microbiome may restore itself (depending on genetics and important lifestyle factors – the most important being diet), but in others, it may not. Better to set our babies up for success! The Atlantic

 

8. Sanitation methods implemented in the early 1900’s eradicated exposure to parasitic worms, or helminths, opening the American population up to a weakened immune system, more susceptible to inflammatory diseases. Strong anecdotal and scientific evidence shows that parasitic worms are an effective treatment option in fighting immune-related disorders and thousands are embarking on this therapeutic frontier. New York Times Magazine

 

9. Scientists discover distinct microbial characteristics for asthma, eczema, and food sensitivities, providing more evidence to support the theory that these 3 conditions have a causative microbial component. Current Opinion in Allergy & Clinical Immunology

 

10. Antibiotics increase the amount of food available for pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella, encouraging their growth and proliferation. This new finding offers insight into how antibiotics lead to microbial imbalance (dysbiosis) and increased disease risk. Nature

 

By: Leslie Ann Berg, MSPH