Gut check

The link between your gut bacteria and your immune health is only one of many examples of how the health of your gut ties into your overall health.

New research is shining a light on one of the lesser known threats of a poorly populated GI tract. And the implications are humongous, in more ways than one.

Scientists examined the gut bacteria profiles of 345 people, 171 of whom were type 2 diabetics. Results exposed a clear difference between diabetics and non-diabetics. Namely, the diabetics’ intestines harbored excessive levels of harmful bacteria and low levels of healthy bacteria.

This is an exciting discovery…and it makes a lot of sense, too. Your gut’s bacterial population informs your body’s metabolic processes, from nutrient absorption to energy production to appetite control. And research has already linked flora imbalances to weight gain and obesity.

Put all the evidence together and you have the equivalent of a neon arrow pointing straight to diabetes. This latest data is just the first piece of confirmation. So if you haven’t checked your gut’s bad bacteria yet, it’s time to fill up on some friendly flora fast.

Source:
“A metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes.” Nature. 490, 55-60 (04 October 2012).