Our soils are able to absorb more nutrients and hence deliver greater crop yields the greater the number of different bacterial fungal species in them is. This was demonstrated by a study conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich and the Swiss Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Research (Agroscope). In an article published by
Category Archives: Well-being
Red Wine May Have a Positive Influence on Microbial Diversity Digestion, General, Well-being
Indulging in red wine may be beneficial for our gut microbiota. This is suggested by studies scientists at King’s college London published in recent weeks (Le Roy et al. 2019). They looked at the effect of different alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, or cider on bacterial diversity in the gut. The collection of bacteria
Millions of Bacteria in a Single Apple Digestion, General, Well-being
“Eat five (portions of fruit and vegetables) a day”, “5 a day” or “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” – everyone of us is familiar with many sayings which admonish us to follow healthy diets. Most often, the argument brought forward is that fruit and vegetables are especially rich sources of vitamins. A
Excessive Nutrients May Increase Incidence of Bowel Diseases Digestion, General, Well-being
Chronic bowel diseases such as Crohn‘s disease or ulcerative colitis continue to rise. Speculations and explanations regarding the causes of these lifestyle diseases (also known as “environmental diseases”) abound. Scientists at Kiel University have recently put forward a new theory explaining the onset of such lifestyle diseases, referred to as the “overfeeding hypothesis”. According to
How the Gut Flora Impacts Mental Health and Depression General, Well-being
Scientists have long since suspected a connection between gut function and mental health (see also http://www.gesunde-bakterien.de/en/ravenous-hunger-and-anxiety-when-your-gut-affects-your-mind/). Now, this thesis is supported by recent scientific research. In Belgium, microbiologists of the “Flemish Gut Flora Project” surveyed the gut bacteria population of more than 1000 participants, some of which suffered from medically diagnosed depression. The result: among
Bacteria Are Effective against Diabetes and Old-Age Diseases Digestion, General, Overweight, Well-being
The older people get, the more vulnerable they become to specific diseases. As we advance in years, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, or adult-onset diabetes, for example, become increasingly more frequent. In experiments on mice and monkeys, US scientists have now found that insulin resistance, a cause of diabetes, can be reversed using good and healthy bacteria. German
Bifidobacteria against Gut Disorders Digestion, Well-being
In addition to lactobacilli, healthy guts also contain many bifidobacteria. These bacterial species both produce lactic acid, yet differ in the other effects they have. In South Korea, scientists recently discovered that the presence of bifidobacteria results in the increased production of anti-inflammatory immune cells in the gut wall. This may help prevent or keep
Remedy Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Well-being
The rising number of antibiotic resistance cases around the world is a serious threat. More and more often, bacterial infections which once could have been easily treated or occasionally even be considered harmless turn fatal if the respective pathogen stops responding to treatment with any of the available antibiotics. The work of researchers at Heidelberg
Beautiful Summer Skin General, Well-being
As soon as spring is in the air, many home making, women’s and beauty magazines overwhelm readers with advice on getting your skin bikini-ready for summer. You’re supposed to give your skin “a fresh, youthful” and “well cared-for, attractive” appearance, preserve its youthfulness and avoid premature ageing. Facial tonic should be used to remove blemishes,
Preventing Antibiotic Resistance with the Aid of Healthy Bacteria General, Well-being
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium which has a kick to it. Many of its strains are being referred to as MRSA, i.e. they can often no longer be treated with conventional pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics (c.f. antibiotic resistance). In patients with weak immune systems, infection with S. aureus may result in serious health issues, including