Microbes and The Mind

Microbes may play crucial role in human health, researchers discovering Consider this: The average person’s body contains about 100 trillion cells, but only maybe one in 10 is human. This isn’t the latest Hollywood horror flick, or some secret genetic engineering experiment run amok. This, it turns out, is nature’s

About one hundred trillion bacteria live inside you – Up to a 1000 species and more than TEN TIMES the number of cells you have in your body! These indigenous bacteria are referred to as the body’s flora and live in many areas of your body, including the skin,

Scientists have long known that many organisms evolved with humans and perform vital functions, digesting food, extracting crucial nutrients and fighting off disease-causing entities. “We feed them and house them, and they perform certain metabolic functions for us that we have sort of contracted out,” said Martin J. Blaser of the

Investigators are trying to identify which organisms may truly be beneficial “probiotics” that people could take to help their health. Others are finding substances that people might ingest to nurture the good bugs. Drugs may mimic the helpful compounds that these organisms produce. Doctors have even begun microbiota “transplants”

Other benefits of Microbes Negative Effects of Microbes An estimated 30% of bacteria are disease causing pathogens. According to health care experts, infectious diseases caused by microbes are responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other single cause.  It is estimated that, at beginning of the 20th century, more

Because of the presence of microbes in all walks of human life, there is constant interaction between microbes and humans. The vast majority of the bacteria in the body are rendered harmless by the protective effects of the immune system, and a few are beneficial.  In fact, the relationship

By Rob Stein Health & Science Clues also are emerging about how microbes may affect the brain. Manipulating gut microbiomes of mice influences their anxiety and activity, Swedish researchers reported in January in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “This may have implications for new lines of thinking

Similarly, studies indicate that gut dwellers secrete messengers to cells lining the digestive tract to modulate key hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, which are players in regulating metabolism, hunger and a sense of fullness. Pregnant women often take antibiotics, and young children can get several rounds to fight

The most important thing to do is to avoid anything that reduces the body’s beneficial flora.  The following factors reduce the presence of beneficial flora in favour of pathogenic organisms – such as pathogenic bacteria, and fungi (e.g. the yeast Candida Albicans): Encourage body’s beneficial flora Article Reference: Shirley

In the same manner that we harness the benefits of microbes, where appropriate, we fight micro-organisms where they can do harm. There are many ways to combat microbial growth, and most involve simple measures that we can employ at home or in the workplace. For example: Pathogenic Disease occurs

“The birth canal is very heavily colonized by bacteria,” said Maria Dominguez-Bello, a University of Puerto Rico biologist who has been studying microbiota around the world, including among isolated tribes in the Amazon. “We think that is not by chance.” The rising number of C-section babies denied this colonization, along with