Give Your Gut a Chance: Microorganisms and Your Immune System

Whenever an infectious disease threatens the health of many, the topic of how our immune system operates often arises. Across the board, the human immune response helps to manage a plethora of tasks, the most important of which is fighting pathogens. Properly employing it in times of sickness is an important part of keeping us well. Since a large proportion of our immune system is housed within our gut, the gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in determining when and how well our immune response operates.

Mar 16, 2020

FACTS ABOUT FADS: 4 Ways Trendy Dieting is Hurting Your Health

So even though we all know the hottest fad diet out there may not be here to stay, why is it that we gravitate towards them anyway? Do we really believe that whatever diet one celebrity follows will work just as well for us? And are these fad diets really helping us in our weight loss journey or could there be a darker side lying just beneath?

Mar 12, 2020

TMI on TMAO? How Your Diet Impacts Your Heart Health

Americans have been facing an uphill battle against cardiovascular disease for the last forty years. Every 37 seconds, a person dies from cardiovascular disease in the United States, with nearly 650,000 deaths from heart disease each year. A staggering number – translating to nearly 1 in every 4 deaths that can be attributed to cardiovascular events. Yet, there are many ways people can begin to take control over their heart health today. Scientists have found strong associations that dietary and lifestyle changes can significantly strengthen the heart, lessening the impact of many cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Feb 26, 2020

Scientist Uncover Brand New Landscapes while Mapping the Gut Microbiome

Depending on where we are - or who we are with – we all tend to show different sides of our personality. People are complex, layered individuals with behaviors that we often adjust whether we are with friends, family, or at work. Our location often influences how we act. For humans, we call this phenomenon environmental psychology – or the study of how the natural world impacts our behavior. But the idea that our behavior towards others varies based on our environment isn’t limited to humans, or even animals. It can affect many other living organisms, including the microorganisms that make their home inside us. And it might have a little to do with their relationship with our own immune cells.

Feb 21, 2020

What Your Poop Says About You

For a company that analyzes your gut microbiome based on a sample of your stool, we’ll be the first to admit just how special your poop is. Although you might take your bowel movement for granted, there is an unfathomable amount of information you can gather from it. How you go, how frequently you go, and the appearance of your stool are all things that can say a lot about your digestive health – and it can speak volumes about your overall health as well.

Feb 20, 2020

Parkinson’s and the Gut Microbiome: A Steady Start to a New Era of Research

Facing a Parkinson’s Disease (PD) diagnosis can be terrifying. This neurodegenerative disease has seen a steady increase over the last century, often with life-changing symptoms. However, efforts to understand the cause of the disease has created a dynamic movement of truly exciting new research.

Feb 19, 2020