Quotes and Facts
“Repeatedly adopting and abandoning a healthy diet causes cyclical shifts in gut microbial composition, leading to fluctuations in cardiovascular risk factors, mood, and immune function. These changes in bacterial relative abundances are closely linked to variations in blood lipids, lipoproteins, neuropeptides, and immune responses.”
“Individuals living under the same roof share up to 13.9% of the microbial strains in their guts, but even people who don’t share a roof but habitually spend free time together share 10%. By contrast, strangers living in the same village but who do not spend time together share only 4%.”
“The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in overall health, influencing not only gastrointestinal conditions like diarrhea and IBS but also immune-related diseases such as IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and allergies. Additionally, gut dysbiosis has been implicated in central nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as metabolic conditions like obesity, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes.”
“The gut microbiome is an organ in itself, and it is connected to all of the systems of our body.”
“Generally, our gut microbiota remains relatively stable despite occasional disruptions because it can adapt and quickly return to its original balance. However, if we are continuously exposed to pollutants, stress, or illness, the composition of our gut microbiota can shift (dysbiosis), leading to the growth of more harmful microorganisms and potentially affecting our overall health.”
“The gut microbiota releases compounds that enter the bloodstream and influence various body functions, including the immune system, metabolism, and brain activity. Some of these compounds, like short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan byproducts, interact with receptors found throughout the body to regulate different processes. Meanwhile, the body’s immune sensors, called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), detect structural parts of microbes to recognize bacteria, viruses, and fungi in tissues, cells, and mucosal surfaces. Certain bacterial components have been linked to changes in brain function, and PRRs are connected to brain disorders.”
“Exercise training can prevent physical frailty or cognitive dysfunction by positively altering the gut microbiome.”
“More than 90 % of the entire population of the human gut microbiota are represented by two phyla, Firmicutes (which includes mainly Clostridium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium genera and Bacteroidetes (which includes notably Bacteroides, and Prevotella genera).”
“The gut microbiome is first transmitted at birth and can persist for a lifetime, with maternal bacteria still detectable in old age, while new microbial strains are acquired over time through social interactions and shared environments.”
“The gut microbiome contains nearly 1,000 times more genes than the human genome, helping to support our health by breaking down foreign substances, producing vitamins, and digesting food.”
“The microbiome may influence your quality of sleep, and your sleep may influence the quality of your microbiome. This connection may lie with high or low levels of bacteria that produce the short-chain fatty acid butyrate.”
