Social justice, in particular the “war on poverty,” may have a brand new front: the human gut. More specifically, human gut microbiome. Suzanne Ishaq and her colleagues at the University of Oregon have just published an essay arguing this in the journal PLOS Biology. In their essay, they point out that poverty creates increased risk… Continue reading Poverty and an Unhealthy Gut
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease. It progresses slowly, destroying quality of life for those who suffer from it. PD affects muscle control, balance and movement. It is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder, behind either Alzheimer’s or dementia, depending on whose data you rely. Three percent of all adults over 65… Continue reading Are Both Gut And Brain Connected To Parkinson’s Disease?
Signals between our gut and brain control how and when we eat food. But how the molecular mechanisms involved in this signaling are affected when we eat a high-energy diet and how they contribute to obesity are not well understood. Using a mouse model, a research team led by a biomedical scientist at the University… Continue reading Overeating? Your Overactive Receptors Might Be To Blame
FDA-approved artificial sweeteners and sport supplements were found to be toxic to digestive gut microbes, according to a new paper published in Molecules by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The collaborative study indicated relative toxicity of six artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, neotame, advantame,… Continue reading Artificial Sweeteners Are Toxic to Gut Bacteria
As mammals age, immune cells in the brain known as microglia become chronically inflamed. In this state, they produce chemicals known to impair cognitive and motor function. That’s one explanation for why memory fades and other brain functions decline during old age. But, according to a new study from the University of Illinois, there may… Continue reading Dietary Fiber Reduces Brain Inflammation
Years ago, my wife and I became customers of a company called Melaleuca. At the time, we were interested in reducing our exposure to common chemicals, since my wife had just been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Melaleuca shared information with customers and potential customers about the ingredients in and risks of using most common… Continue reading Common Household Cleaners May Damage Kids’ Gut Microbia, Effect Obesity
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a set of painful conditions that can cause severe diarrhea and fatigue. Treatments can include medications and surgery. But now researchers report that a simple dietary intervention could mitigate colonic inflammation and improve gut health. In this case, a strawberry — or rather, less than a cupful of strawberries —… Continue reading Strawberries Reduce Colon Inflammation, Help IBD Sufferers
It turns out that exercise can do more than slim down your waistline and boost heart health. It might also make what’s inside your gut healthier, according to a new study by San Francisco State University. In this first-of-its-kind study, just published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, recent SF State… Continue reading Healthier Heart, Healthier Gut
