"Microbiome" is the term that refers to the good and bad bacteria that resides within your digestive system. When that bacteria is in healthy balance, you have optimal equilibrium in your gut. Prebiotics and probiotics can contribute to this balance, enhancing your overall digestive health. You can get prebiotics and probiotics from both supplements and food. By making an effort to maintain a healthy microbiome, you will reap the benefits of overall immune support, heart health, an improved mood, and regularity in your bowel movements.

Key Takeaways:

• Probiotics are healthy bacteria that live inside a person's gut, while prebiotics are the fibers that fuel probiotics.
• Some examples of prebiotic fibers are lentils, different kinds of beans, and fruits and vegetables.
• Yogurts, kefir, fermented vegetables, and kombucha are examples of probiotic foods.

"While all fiber is important to feeling your best every day, only certain fibers are what we call prebiotics."

Read more: https://www.austindailyherald.com/2019/03/follow-your-gut-to-digestive-health/

There are two different microbes called Coprococcus and Dialister that are now showing a correlation between depression and the absence of these two floras. A study was done in which 1,000 participants filled out assessments that analyzed their quality of life. Those who were shown to have significant signs of depression were more likely to have a deficiency in the two previously mentioned forms of gut flora. Since the microbes in our gut are responsible for other conditions such as childhood Leukemia and inflammatory diseases, their correlation to mental wellness is not a complete shock.

Key Takeaways:

• Gut bacteria, or gut microbiome, are bacteria which can be found living in our digestive tracts and these bacteria have been the focus of many medical studies.
• Gut microbiome significantly affects one’s physical health and it is known that each person has a different mix of this bacteria.
• The work examining the relationship between gut bacteria and mental health is a large scale work that has never been undertaken in humans until now.

"Researchers from Belgium recruited more than 1,000 people in order to examine their gut microbiome. Of them, 173 participants were diagnosed with depression or fared poorly in a survey assessing their quality of life."

Read more: https://www.medicaldaily.com/can-gut-bacteria-affect-your-mental-health-429678

The probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis, or B. lactis, is a powerhouse for gut health. Why is this strain of bacteria so important? One study published in 2015 showed that B. lactis could improve unpleasant and painful symptoms associated with poor gut motility, dysbiosis, and GI hypersensitivity. B. lactis is definitely one of the “good guys” of the gut bacteria world because it contributes to a healthy and balanced microbiome, which positively affects balanced blood sugar and optimal weight maintenance.

Key Takeaways:

• While probiotics are ingested live organisms that are good for gut health, a prebiotic is food that helps these organisms thrive.
• Bifidobacterium lactis in fermented milk is good for gut health because it improves gastrointestinal symptoms and well-being.
• Oral health is tied to gut health in intricate ways. Studies with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has shown this truth.

"A particular strain of B. lactis, known as HN019, has been shown to have a significant impact on those with metabolic syndrome. This probiotic had beneficial effects on inflammation, nitric oxide metabolites, and antioxidant measurements, and the authors of the study stated that if their results are confirmed, supplementation with this probiotic should be considered further."

Read more: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/bifidobacterium-lactis-weight-loss-inflammation

Scientists at McGill University were able to significantly increase the life expectancy of Drosophila fruit flies by using probiotics and the prebiotic Triphala mixture, an element of traditional Indian medicine. The experiment was based on the theory of the gut-brain axis, a two way superhighway of communication between the neurons and the digestive tract that helps the body respond to its environment and handle stress. Changes associated with the aging process, such as depletion of beneficial gut flora in the gastric microbiome, can interfere with the body’s ability to handle stress, inflammation and damage effectively. It is thought that the pro- and pre- biotics mixture helped mitigate these changes to the gastric microbiome.

Key Takeaways:

• The theory of the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) posits that the digestive tract and nervous system engage in constant and extensive communication.
• The aging process tends to alter the gastric microbiome in harmful ways as populations of beneficial gut bacteria die off, potentially impacting all parts of the GBA.
• As the body ages, it becomes more vulnerable to inflammation, oxidative stress and other forms of damage, many of which can be aggravated by the loss of gut bacteria and other changes in the GBA.

"The researchers, headed by Satya Prakash, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical engineering in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine, hope that the combination of probiotics and the prebiotic Triphala formulation could help to prevent or treat human disorders ranging from diabetes and obesity, to neurodegeneration, chronic inflammation, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and perhaps even cancer."

Read more: https://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/microbiome-herbal-medicine-and-probiotics-combine-to-extend-lifespan/81255870

A recent comprehensive review was published about all of the benefits of eating mangos. Review focused on the anti-inflammatory and health benefits of the pulp and flash of the mango. Recent research has shown that the mango enhances intestinal, grain in skin health. It also has shown to help prevent obesity as well as type 2 diabetes. Research into this low-calorie nutrient rich food needs to continue but it looks like the mango is a promising superfood.

Key Takeaways:

• According to a recent review published in Food and Function, mangoes are great for the microbiome, vascular health, glycemic control, and the brain.
• The delicious and popular fruit is a great source of essential and phyto-nutrients that have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, and anti-cancer properties.
• Mangoes can be consumed alone or can be used in a variety of dishes, such as fruit salads, chutneys, ice creams, and salsas.

"Mangos have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties according to a comprehensive review of all available science literature on the fruit."

Read more: http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Are-mangos-the-nutrient-filled-superfood-we-need-for-better-health

Inflammation and autoimmunity are caused by inappropriate activity of the body's own regulatory T immune cells. A mutation in a gene called Foxp3 causes a fatal disease, IPEX syndrome, where these cells run amok. But new research shows an unexpected link to the gut: Foxp3 mutant mice end up missing a particular type of bacteria from their intestines. By replacing the missing bacterial species in the gut Microbiome, many of the T cell-mediated inflammatory symptoms could be improved.

Key Takeaways:

• T reg cells suppress the immune system and prevent it from attacking the body's own tissues by mistake.Defects in T reg cells therefore lead to various types of autoimmune disease.
• This inherited autoimmune disorder is characterized by a variety of inflammatory conditions including eczema, type I diabetes, and severe enteropathy.
• Autoimmune diseases can also be caused by changes in the gut Microbiome, the population of bacteria that reside within the gastrointestinal tract.

"The study, published online in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that replacing the missing gut bacteria."

Reference:

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