How a Lack of Fiber Harms the Gut Dietary fiber—or at least some types of it—feeds the bacteria in the human gut. This strengthens the bacteria that are important for human health. But what happens when dietary fiber is lacking? When the bacteria in the gut run out of...
The Microbiome and Aging: Can Bacteria Influence the Aging Process? Perceptions of bacteria have changed dramatically over time: from terrifying pathogens that wiped out as many as one-third of Europe’s population during the era of the great pandemics, to modern-day...
Antibiotics and the Microbiome: Effects on the Gut and Health The infection has cleared up, the antibiotic worked—everything should actually be back to normal by now. But sometimes, after that, the body doesn’t feel like it’s back in balance: digestion goes haywire,...
How does the microbiome work? What bacteria really want. The attention that bacteria have received in recent years, driven by increasing microbiome research and a lifestyle industry based on it, has led to a shift in perception of what happens in our gut.Suddenly,...
Battle for iron – why iron availability shifts the balance of power in the microbiome Day after day, a battle rages in our bodies over a trace element. Pathogens fight with helpful bacteria for a rare metal. The body tries to intervene. But often it can only...
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