Gut microbes help the stomach and small intestine when they are unable to digest certain foods we eat. It also known to aid the production of certain vitamins. Two thirds of the gut microbiome is unique to each person because of the food we eat, the air we breathe and other environmental factors.Some studies have even suggested the makeup of the gut microbiome is influenced by genes.Gut bacteria produce an array of neurochemicals that the brain uses for the regulation of physiological and mental processes, including memory, learning and mood. Gut bacteria produce an array of neurochemicals that the brain uses for the regulation of physiological and mental processes, including memory, learning and mood.In fact, 95% of the body's supply of serotonin
In 1899, Thiercelin found a new gram positive diplococcus that he named enterocoque, suggesting that he believed that this bacterium had something to do with the intestines. He also described finding this bacterium in patients who had enteritis, appendicitis and meningitis (Murray). In 1906, Andrewes and Hoarder isolated this same bacterium from a patient suffering from endocarditis and they also discovered a relationship with urinary tract infections. They named it Streptococcus faecalis, again because of similarities to the human intestinal tract (Murray). Other early 20th century instances of infection where S. faecalis has been associated but not known to be definitively causative include wound infections after World War I, osteomyelitis,
The relationship between the human gut microbiome to health and disease is strong. Human physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function are all affected by the composition of the gut. If the composition of the gut microbiome is altered in a way that any of these functions are negatively affected, this can lead to disease. The developments of the microbiome, its complexity, and its functionality in health and disease have been extensively studied. In addition, the way in which it is altered has many implications in the cause of diseases, such as bowel disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
The gut microbiota encompasses trillions of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract (Carding et al. 2015). The composition of the gut microbiota is constantly evolving and can be susceptible to both endogenous and exogenous modifications (Carding et al. 2015). The microbiota
Studies have shown that gut microbiota is involved in the regulation of many brain functions, such as:
Zimmer ends the article by explaining that having a more diverse set of microbes in your gut can actually help you in the long run. Western cultures have microbes that produce carbohydrates that feed on the body if not given enough fiber. However, the people living with more diverse microbes in the gut are developing microbiomes that are rarely seen in industrialized cultures (Zimmer). The article ends with a statement regarding the idea that seasonal microbes give scientists a new outlook as to how humans lived and thrived in a world long before there were industrialized societies.
Symbiosis is defined as the physical interaction between two different organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship. In other words, it is the coexistence of two different species in an environment where the existence of one benefits the other. Several studies have been performed on different species but the gut microbiome is probably one of the most extensively studied examples of a symbiotic relationship. The gut microbiome, also known as the gut flora, is an ensemble of microorganisms that exist in the gut and help in the digestion process of the organism in which it exists. The gut microbiome evolves in the gut throughout the lifecycle of the organism and is altered by several environmental factors. Its composition is unique to every individual and any loss of balance in them may result in health problems.
The good gut microbes are a powerful line of defense against pathogens and germs and also prevent the overgrowth of harmful microbes such as bacteria, yeasts and parasites, making healthy bacteria vital for a strong immune system.
Even though it's true that the health of your body and mind is largely determined by what you eat, your gut is in control of how the nutrients and energy in the food get into the rest of your body. Again, I'm giving a simplified model here, if you want to learn about gut health in more details, there are some books I recommend later on.
Since a large portion of your immune system resides in your gut, keeping it healthy can protect you against a variety of conditions. Support your gastrointestinal health by ensuring your gut microbiome has a healthy balance of bacteria. When your gut flora is healthy, your body can perform essential functions more effectively and defend itself against harmful invaders, such as carcinogens or the flu virus. Eat more of these 10 foods for gut health and keep your gut healthy and happy.
The study intended to look at the gut microbiome that is naturally present within the gut. The research team of the Louisiana State University designed an experiment with lab rats to predict how the manipulation of the gut microbiome with a high fat diet would affect their brain
The article titled: Microbiota Controls the Homeostasis of Glial Cells in the Gut Lamina Propria assessed the varying conditions in which Microbiota within the developing digestive tract can influence the process of network formation of the certain aspects of the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the aspect of the digestive system endowed with its own nervous system (Bowen 2006). As far as the article is concerned, there were three important biological findings presented in the article concerning the ENS.
In the abstract, Gut-brain axis: how the microbiome influences anxiety and depression, the abstract says that humans are colonized by commensal intestinal microbiota in the first few days of life. It also says that findings have shown that microbiota’s are important in normal healthy brain functions. Foster, J.A. and McVey Neufeld, K.A. (2013) discussed relations between stress and microbiota, and also how alterations influence stress-related behaviors.
Numerous small molecules are already known to be produced by the human microbiota. Some have been show to affect immune modulation and signaling, which has the potential to influence mood and behavior; they can even regulate the production or the metabolism of neuromodulators and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA, all of which are well
The community of micro-organisms within a host individuals gastrointestinal tract, or microbiota, is primarily made up of four bacterial phyla in most mammals – Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria (Costello et al., 2012). Similarly, the microbiome of an organism is the combined genetic material present in all of the various micro-organisms residing in a host. Since 2011, numerous studies have indicated that an altered microbiota in germ free mice (GF) lead to behavioral changes, notably advancing the idea of a microbiota-gut-brain axis (Stilling et al., 2014). It is now clear that certain specific pathologies, neurodevelopment disorders and depression are linked to an altered microbiome (Grenham et al.,
Bacteria surround us, they cover our bodies from our phalanges on our feet to the follicles of hair on our craniums. Therefore, it is important to realize that while, the majority of these astounding microorganisms are beneficial, certain bacteria are devastating to our health.