Are there health benefits of raisins? Well, if you look at their nutrition info, there's not much to get excited about. Aside from a decent dose of potassium(300mg), not much else sticks out. Maybe the high sugar content, which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. However, if you dig in a little deeper, there do seem … Continue reading Health benefits of raisins may improve the microbiome
Tag: microbiome
Animal protein vs plant protein: Which is best for the gut?
Animal protein vs plant protein, which is better for your gut? Research seems to show that replacing animal protein with plant protein has a beneficial effect on general health. This relationship is especially strong for cardiometabolic health(type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease). However, these studies are often epidemiological, so they have their limitations. Furthermore, it … Continue reading Animal protein vs plant protein: Which is best for the gut?
The virome: How viruses shape your gut health
You've likely heard of your microbiome, but have you heard of your virome? Your virome is the suite of viruses living in your body. And just like bacteria and fungi, they play a role in your health. A small number of them come from the viruses that infected you throughout your life. But most of … Continue reading The virome: How viruses shape your gut health
How oral health shapes the gut microbiome
Oral health plays an important role in shaping our gut microbiome. After all, the mouth is effectively the gateway microbes use to access our gut. Unfortunately, people really aren't aware of how the health of their mouth regulates the gut microbiome. Poor oral hygiene leads to biofilm factories that continually expose our mouth and entire … Continue reading How oral health shapes the gut microbiome
Getting healthy gut bacteria to thrive in your gut
Gut bacteria live in communities throughout your digestive tract. They do many things for you while they hang out there. They help digest your food, synthesize vitamins and metabolites that make you healthy, and help train your immune system. But since the science is so new, there's a lot to digest(Pun intended). As a result, … Continue reading Getting healthy gut bacteria to thrive in your gut
How a low FODMAP diet improves digestion in IBS
A low FODMAP diet is a common approach to managing irritable bowel syndrome. FODMAPs are rapidly Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, And Polyls. The problem with FODMAPs is that they ferment rapidly and are poorly absorbed. So they stick around and feed bacteria that cause gas and bloating. Most people have no issue with FODMAPs, though … Continue reading How a low FODMAP diet improves digestion in IBS
The secret to eliminating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition where excess bacteria grow in the small intestine. While there are normally trillions of bacteria in the gut, their numbers are low in the small intestine of healthy people. Different areas of the gut contain varying amounts of microbes, expressed as log colony-forming units per gram(CFU/g). In … Continue reading The secret to eliminating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
High protein foods that increase butyrate in the gut
Foods that increase butyrate in the gut are normally considered high fiber foods. Since we don't digest fiber, members of our microbiome ferment it, converting it into butyrate. But there are other foods that increase butyrate in our gut. For one, many foods such as butter contain butyrate in them. The problem with getting butyrate … Continue reading High protein foods that increase butyrate in the gut
Low carb diet and the microbiome: What you need to know
Low carb diets are becoming increasingly popular due to their effectiveness for weight loss. Though they've been around for while, concerns over their long term effects prevented health authorities and physicians from recommending them. Even if there are long term concerns with low carbohydrate diets, being overweight or obese likely causes much larger problems. As … Continue reading Low carb diet and the microbiome: What you need to know