gut

A study has shown that bees synthesize specific nutrients to support the colonization of their gut bacteria. This discovery, made using the western honey bee as a model and advanced NanoSIMS technology, offers new insights into the symbiotic relationship between hosts and their gut microbiota.New research reveals that bees produce nutrients that aid in the colonization of their gut bacteria, highlighting a symbiotic host-microbiota relationship and offering insights into bees’ environmental vulnerabilities.Bacteria have…

Microbes living in our guts ooze a substance that could help protect us against excessive weight gain, according to observations in mice.The bacteria-derived compound may explain why early exposure to antibiotics can play a role in childhood obesity, a condition which is rising globally.Vanderbilt University biochemist Catherine Shelton and colleagues discovered this by giving young mice a high or low fat diet, with or without exposure to antibiotics. Mice only given penicillin antibiotics did not gain weight, but those…

The holiday season is upon us, and with it, opportunities to indulge in festive treats. The proverbial saying “you eat with your eyes first” seems particularly relevant at this time of year. The science behind eating behavior, however, reveals that the process of deciding what, when and how much to eat is far more complex than just consuming calories when your body needs fuel. Hunger cues are only part of why people choose to eat. As a scientist interested in the psychology and biology that drives eating behavior,…

A new UCLA study has found how a keto diet induces changes in the gut microbiome that could protect treatment-resistant epileptic children against seizures. The discovery could lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches.Evidence suggests that the low-carb, high-fat ketogenic (keto) diet can help with weight loss and loss of adipose tissue, lower bad cholesterol, and improve insulin sensitivity. But it’s also been found to be an effective treatment for epileptic children whose seizures aren’t controlled by…

The human body's microbe makeup is increasingly linked to the onset of many diseases, with a lot of the focus on the gut. A new study, however, has found that changes in the bug populations in not just the gut but in salivary and urinary microbiomes are linked to kidney stones forming.“Kidney stone disease has been rising in recent years, affecting roughly 10% of people,” says Jeremy Burton, from St. Joseph’s Health Care London. “While previous research has shown a connection between the gut microbiome and kidney stones…

Traditionally, the humble bean doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to its impact on the gut. However, study with colorectal cancer survivors showed that certain legumes could offer a swift, significant benefit to gut health, modulating markers linked to disease and obesity.The MD Anderson Cancer Center study followed 48 men and women who met the prerequisites of obesity and bowel lesions, with a history of colorectal cancer (CRC) or precancerous polyps, for 16 weeks as they incorporated a cup of dry navy beans…

Scientists have discovered that a hunger hormone in the gut directly influences the brain’s hippocampus, affecting decision-making related to food. The study, conducted on mice, showed that hunger hormones modify brain activity to either inhibit or permit eating based on the animal’s hunger level. Researchers have found that hunger hormones in the gut directly affect the brain’s hippocampus, influencing eating decisions. This discovery, made through a study on mice, shows how the brain regulates eating based on hunger…

New research has found that signals linked to how food tastes are sent from our mouths to our brains almost immediately to slow our eating pace, with the well-known stretch signals from the gut coming later. The findings provide insights into how different parts of the body control appetite and how weight loss drugs like Ozempic may work.That eating causes stretch signals from nerves in the gut to be sent to the brain to tell us that we’re full is well-established. Indeed, newer weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy…

At any given time, as many as four million Americans are suffering through bouts of constipation, which has many causes but can also prove stubborn to relieve and hugely impact daily life.Functional constipation (FC) is characterized by recurrent infrequent stools, or difficulty passing those, and is associated with many serious health conditions such as including cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s and colorectal cancer.Constipation also has somewhat of a double-whammy effect on the gut. If there's already a…

A new study shows that a low-fat vegan diet significantly reduces postmenopausal hot flashes by 95% and aids in weight loss. This diet’s impact on the gut microbiome, specifically the reduction of certain bacteria, is linked to the decrease in hot flashes, indicating a potential connection between diet, gut health, and menopausal symptoms. Further research is required to fully understand these findings.A new study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has revealed that a low-fat vegan diet that includes soy…