by Brenda Watson | Aug 27, 2014 | Diet, Human Microbiome
The 100 trillion bacteria that live inside the human digestive tract are the subject of many studies currently underway. Researchers the world over are trying to figure out which microbes constitute a “healthy microbiome,” which microbes protect our health, and which...
by Brenda Watson | Jul 23, 2014 | Children, Human Microbiome, Inflammation, Obesity, Prebiotics, Probiotics & Gut Flora
Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years. According to the CDC, in 2012 more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. The long-term health effects of obesity in children...
by lsmith | Apr 16, 2014 | Digestive Health, General, Infancy, Probiotics & Gut Flora
It has generally been considered that an infant’s gut microbial composition resembles that of an adult by the age of about 12 months. Gut bacterial composition during the first year of life is in flux, with great variation seen between infants and even within the same...
by Brenda Watson | Mar 8, 2014 | Brain, Dietary Fiber, General, Mental Health, Probiotics & Gut Flora
Prebiotics are soluble fibers that feed beneficial bacteria and lead to an increase in those bacteria along with a decrease in potentially harmful bacteria. Prebiotics can be found in food, certain fiber supplements, and in prebiotic supplements (which are fiber...
by Brenda Watson | Dec 13, 2013 | Adults, Autoimmune Disease, Children, Digestive Health, General, Probiotics & Gut Flora
Some of your gut bacteria—especially the beneficial Bifidobacteria—produce an important short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) called butyrate. They do this by fermenting fiber in the digestive tract. Butyrate acts as a food for the cells of the intestinal lining, helping to...
