Food for Thought: Gut Bacteria!

Hey everyone!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm still transitioning into our time leap forward thanks to daylight savings! In any case, the semester is moving along and it's almost the middle of March! Today I bring you information about your gut bacteria! Exciting, I know, but please try and contain your bowel movements.

Picture from NPR article, see link below

As many of you might know, it has been suggested that probiotics may confer health benefits due to a number of various reasons, but today I want to discuss an article I read from NPR. Harvard University has been examining the effect of a diet high in meat and dairy. It turns out, the microflora in the gut changes within two days of a high protein and dairy diet, but this alteration has the potential to cause intestinal and inflammation diseases in mice.

As the types of micrboes in the gut began to shift, so did their expression of genes. Bilophila organisms began to dominate the gut as they love their bile (or rather ours!). This is important since there is an increase in bile production when a diet is rich in fats from meat and dairy. Though the Bilophila are assisting us, increased numbers have been associated with the promotion of inflammation.

Just another reason to consume a well balanced diet!
Have a great week everyone!

And as always, if you would like to see the full article, here is the link:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/12/10/250007042/chowing-down-on-meat-and-dairy-alters-gut-bacteria-a-lot-and-quickly

- Charles Quinto