Microbiome
What is our microbiome? Why is it important? Where is the microbiome in the body and how do I improve it? You might be aware that the human body is filled with bacteria and microorganisms, but did you know they outnumber human cells 10 to 1? There is so much that we are beginning to understand about the human microbiome, and the science is revealing just how significant it has been in our evolution.
New microbiome breakthrough could be key to fighting obesity
Researchers have more than a gut feeling about how to prevent weight gain in the not-so-distant future.
Scientists finally work out what causes itching – and it’s grosser than you'd think
POV: You’re reading an article about the disgusting reason behind itching, and now your skin begins to crawl… But knowledge is power, right?
Why your gut microbiome is the key to better health, explained by a doctor…
There's a staggering link between your gut and mental health.
Dr Michael Mosley: Is fermented food really good for your gut microbiome?
Gut-boosting foods are popping up on supermarket shelves, but are they more than just a trendy side dish?
Our gut microbiomes aren't getting enough fibre, but supplements can help study finds
Modern low-fibre diets are thought to have a negative impact on our health and could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders and colon cancer.
Red meat consumption can increase the risk of heart disease by altering the gut microbiome
The finding has uncovered a new target for possible treatments to combat heart disease.
Storing samples of our poo for use in faecal transplants could protect us against disease in later life
Samples of our gut microbiota taken when we are young and healthy could be banked and used to reset our microbiomes to their earlier, healthier state as we age.
The tiny mites that have sex on your face are close to extinction – and that'll be bad news for your skin
The 0.3mm-small mites are just about visible by the human eye, and they're crawling all over your body as you sleep.
Gut microbiome may influence the risk and severity of stroke
The discovery could lead to new methods of treating or preventing stroke using faecal transplants.
Dr Michael Mosley: You share everything with your partner... even your skin microbiome
Why you are more like your partner than you might think.
Your gut microbiome could be telling your brain when you are hungry
Researchers found a specific compound, released by bacteria in the gut, that can be detected by the area of the brain that controls our hunger, thirst, hormones and more.
“Microbiome friendly” beauty products: Do they work?
More and more hygiene products are claiming to be ‘microbiome friendly’ but how important is our skin microbiome, and can an out-of-whack bacterial community lead to conditions like eczema and dry skin?
Eat lots of seaweed? The key to curing metabolic disorders could be in your gut
Specialised seaweed-eating bacteria found in some humans could be genetically engineered to carry medical treatments into the gut microbiome.
Panda’s shifting gut bacteria help them stay chubby on an all-bamboo diet
Changes in the bears’ gut microbiome in the season when nutritious bamboo shoots are sprouting helps them to gain weight ahead of leaner times.
Instant Genius Podcast | Gut health, with Dr Megan Rossi
The Gut Health Doctor, Megan Rossi, joins us on our podcasts, Instant Genius and Instant Genius Extra.
Put down the disinfectant: Should we be encouraging helpful bacteria into our homes?
Bacteria aren’t always bad. Some, like the billions that live in our guts, are vital for our health. So should we make our homes and cities more hospitable to these beneficial microbes?
Bacteria in children's microbiomes could defend against certain types of hearing loss
Studying microbes found in the upper respiratory tracts of disease-resistant kids may lead to the development of treatments for chronic ear disease.
Your gut microbiome could be stopping you from losing weight
Researchers suggest that changing your diet could encourage beneficial microbes that help weight loss.
It’s a gut feeling: A baby’s microbiome could affect its sense of fear
Not to mention their risk of mental health issues later in life.
Microbiome | Study finds strong link between your gut and long-term health
The latest microbiome research confirms that having the right bacteria in your gut can add years to your life.
Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 have compromised gut microbiomes, study finds
Researchers found fewer friendly bacteria known to support our body’s immune system in people who had been to hospital after a COVID-19 infection.
Medieval poo holds clues to health of modern-day gut microbiome
Researchers found archaea, protozoa, parasitic worms and fungi, including a microscopic fish tapeworm egg (pictured), in 15th Century latrines from Jerusalem and Riga.
From microbiome to mental health | The second brain in your gut
Decision-making, mood, disease… Scientists are discovering that the network of neurons in our gut is involved in a lot more than just digestion.
Bacteria | The miracle microbes that could fix planet
We get inside the labs that are growing beneficial bacteria to gobble up pollution, harvest waste, generate energy and help keep us healthy.