Trillions of microorganisms living inside your digestive system may influence your health and even your weight. Here’s how your gut may communicate with your brain, bone marrow and immune system.
Diet reduces risk of depression through actions on bacteria in the gut, the immune system and the brain.
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A world-first trial showed depression is reduced after just three months following a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, fish, lean red meats, olive oil and nuts.
Illustration by Gil Costa, with elements from Servier Medical Art
From losing inhibitions and anger to schizophrenia and dementia – science is uncovering the role small critters play in a range of illnesses and behaviours.
Screening and sterilisation processes mean human breast milk can be safely collected and frozen for use at a later time.
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New research suggests our gut microbes have their own circadian rhythms that in turn influence our organ functions. Is this an explanation for how disrupting our daily patterns can cause health problems?
Grapefruit diet? Probably not worth it.
Sophie Jonasson from Sweden
When we can’t lose weight, we tend to want to blame something outside our control. Could it be related to the mictobiota – the bacteria and other organisms – that colonise your gut?
What does it mean when it’s too hard or too soft?
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Yo-yoing between eating well during the week and bingeing on junk food over the weekend is likely to be just as bad for your gut health as a consistent diet of junk.
Being too clean isn’t what’s making us sick. It’s the loss of biodiversity in the bacteria and organisms that live in our bodies and work with the immune system.
Allergies are becoming more frequent in the western world.
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Allergies are reactions caused by the immune system as it responds to environmental substances that are usually harmless. But we don’t yet have a cure or the ability to prevent them from developing.