Digestive Health

Before researchers uncovered the complexities of the gut microbiome, people commonly believed that the gut's only function was to carry and process food. However, separating nutrients from waste is just the most obvious function of that system and we now know that the gut is host to a complex community of microorganisms. This community has been named the gut microbiome...

Previous research has found that drinking coffee can provide a growing list of health benefits, from protecting cognitive functioning to strengthening cardiovascular health. While these benefits may seem unrelated, new research has discovered that they may all be attributed to the way in which coffee affects the gut microbiome. A new study finds drinking more coffee boosts gut health, adding...

Past research has confirmed that trillions of microorganisms thrive in our large intestines, comprising what we call the gut microbiome. This collection of bacteria influences our health in a variety of ways, including how likely we are to develop medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Research has found that one of the primary...

What would happen if you could turn an unhealthy gut microbiome into a healthy one? According to research recently conducted at Scripps Research Institute, doing so may improve cholesterol levels and stave off chronic disease. According to this new research, gut health and disease are linked, suggesting improving gut health can positively impact the risks of developing certain diseases. Recent...

Researchers have long known that maintaining a varied and diverse gut microbiome is essential to good health in a variety of ways. However, the issue that we face daily is exactly how to encourage the diversity of the vast array of bacteria that exists in the gut. A recent study provides one possible answer to that problem: New research suggests...

The prostate gland is a small organ that's similar in size and shape to a walnut. It's linked to the sexual health of men in that it's responsible for producing seminal fluid, which helps carry sperm to the penis. The prostate gland is a common target for cancer in men, but, because it develops slowly, prostate cancer may not produce...

A new study from John Hopkins University School of Medicine suggests that Parkinson's starts in the gut. These recent findings further support the theory that the gut microbiome strongly influences brain health. Study Finds That Parkinson's Starts in the Gut Research conducted recently at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine sought to confirm the theory that Parkinson's disease first develops...

While your body is comprised of trillions of human cells, it's also home to trillions of fungi, bacteria and other foreign microbes. A large portion of these reside in the large intestine, and scientists refer to this community as the "gut microbiome." Until fairly recently, little attention was paid to this realm, but we now recognize that the microbes housed...

In recent years, continued discoveries relating to the importance of the gut microbiome have brought to light the extent to which we rely on the bacteria thriving in our body to determine how we fight off disease. The bacteria in the large intestine are responsible for influencing genetic responses to a number of external factors. We actually have more microbes...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects one's ability to communicate effectively and/or interact with others. Symptoms of ASD typically appear in childhood and may vary in severity from person to person, thus it is often considered a "spectrum" disorder.  A new study has uncovered a link between gut bacteria and autism, suggesting that taking a probiotic...