Until recently, scientists presumed that breast milk—the primary source of infant nutrition— was microbe-free. However, recent studies have found that breast milk contains a healthy dose of good bacteria. These microbes originate from the mother’s gut microbiota—the harmless micro-organisms that colonize the human digestive system. The microbiome performs diverse functions[Read More…]
Tag: gut microbiome
Bacteriophages in the battle against malnourishment
‘You are what you eat’: It is an idiom many have heard in trendy food advertisements or in their grandparents’ kitchen. But, for scientists, this common phrase has been proven in the now extensive body of research known as gut microbiomics. Aiding in digestion, producing certain vitamins, and even assisting[Read More…]
The gut microbiome in disease and health
There are thousands of different bacterial species living inside our intestines. This environment, called the gut microbiome, provides the body with key vitamins and ensures a healthy immune system. The composition of the gut microbiome is key: Dysbiosis, a condition that occurs when ‘bad’ bacteria take over the gut, is[Read More…]