In the past two decades, technology has allowed scientists to learn so much more about the human body and its microbiomes. These discoveries may pave the way to new therapies.
Whole foods like unprocessed fruits, vegetables and grains are typically high in fiber.
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Many processed foods strip carbs of their natural fibers. Eating foods with an ideal total carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio can help with weight management and improve overall health.
Tineola bisselliella can survive on as little as a hairball and some vitamin B.
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An appreciation for the moths that chomp holes in your clothes. They eat the inedible, occupy the uninhabitable and overcome every evolutionary obstacle in their way.
Research has examined how ultraprocessed foods can contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mood disorders. A healthier diet is one way to use food as medicine.
Your genes determine the look of your navel.
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Sarah Leupen, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
All mammals who get nutrients from their parent via a placenta before birth are left with a belly button. It’s a visual reminder of this original connection.
Multiple sclerosis involves the immune system attacking the protective myelin sheath of neurons.
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Cancer cells are ‘cheaters’ that do not cooperate with the rest of the body. Certain microbes in your diet can either protect against or promote tumor formation by influencing cell cooperation.
Turns out it is a sterile environment after all.
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Taichi A. Suzuki, Max Planck Institute for Biology and Ruth Ley, Max Planck Institute for Biology
As early modern humans spread across the globe, their gut microbes genetically changed with them. Understanding the origins of gut microbes could improve understanding of their role in human health.
The types of microbes residing in your gut can affect your mental and physical health. Home microbiome tests promise to help consumers improve the composition of their gut microbes.