The gut microbiome, explained
This video from 1440 takes a high-level look at what populates the gut microbiome, its purpose, how it affects our health, and much more.
Video• 1440 Original
Gut Microbiome
Overview
Our bodies are covered in rich ecosystems invisible to the eye and inhabited by trillions of microscopic organisms, which collectively make up the human microbiome. Of these, studies increasingly show one of the most consequential microbiomes lies inside the digestive tract.
1440 Findings
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
A technical review of what researchers know about the gut microbiome
This overview from the National Institutes of Health provides a deeper (but still accessible) look at the different bacteria in the gut, how the microbiome develops through life, its purpose, and more.
There are between 10 and 100 trillion bacteria in the gut
The composition of our microbiome is essential to overall health. Anything that disrupts the balance of the trillions of bacteria may be harmful—even treatments meant to fight infection, like antibiotics.
VideoHow bacteria rule over your body
Bacteria in our intestine influence the brain via the gut-brain axis
The gut-brain axis refers to the physical connection between the central nervous system and the digestive tract. Signaling molecules and hormones produced in the gut directly affect brain functions via this internal highway.
Visualize the different parts of the digestive tract
The digestive tract, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, runs from our mouths to rear ends. Its major components include the esphoagus, stomach, intestines, colon, and more.
Chemicals from the gut have complex interactions with the rest of the body
Trillions of bacteria live in our guts, producing a wide range of molecules, hormones, and more. This review underscores the immune system’s pivotal role in the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Gut microbes influence immune cells and metabolites, which in turn modulate neurodevelopment, neural signaling, mood, and neuroinflammation—highlighting immune pathways as central mediators in gut‑brain communication.
Can the gut microbiome drive addiction?
New research suggests an imbalance of gut microorganisms may influence the likelihood of addiction and addictive behaviors by increasing the severity of withdrawal symptoms, triggering brain inflammation in regions of impulse control, and more.
Fecal transplants can help treat infections
Fecal transplants aim to transplant healthy gut bacteria into ill patients by transferring (literally) samples of human waste from a healthy patient to a sick patient. The technique has been shown to cure otherwise deadly Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections and is being studied for a range of other uses.
Some animals have little or no bacterial populations in their gut
Gut microbiomes are essential to human health, but many animals have a much smaller, transient, or even nonexistent microbiome. The discoveries have advanced our understanding of the evolution of the human microbiome.
What constitutes a 'healthy' diet?
A natural diet, typically high in plant-based foods and low in processed foods, appears to be the main contributor to a healthy, diverse gut microbiome.
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