Is Akkermansia muciniphilia a microbial superstar and next-generation beneficial microbe?
Most people are familiar with probiotics and their health benefits. Nowadays, they can be found in many supermarkets and most health stores. Of the probiotic species, the most well-known, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, can also be found in fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha and tempeh. Lately, however, Akkermansia Muciniphilia (AK Muciniphilia), another microbe species, is […]
Is your IBS small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)?
SIBO is a condition in which an excessive amount of bacteria is present in the small intestine (1). This can lead to various symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and malnutrition. The small intestine is usually relatively free of bacteria, but in SIBO, bacteria typically found in the large intestine migrate into the […]
What are lectins, and how do they contribute to gut inflammation?
Lectins are a type of protein found in many plant foods, including legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas), grains (barley, quinoa, rice) and nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants). They play a role in the plant’s defence mechanisms, helping to protect them against pests and disease (1). Some lectins can bind to certain sugars on the surface […]
What is the difference between gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance, and coeliac disease, and does scientific evidence suggest that gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance is, in fact, a growing problem?
Unlike coeliac disease (CD), which is widely recognised and accepted by the scientific community as a serious autoimmune disorder, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a topic of much debate among the public and in the media. It refers to a scenario whereby people who do not have CD or wheat allergy (WA) experience a wide […]
What is the FODMAP diet and is it suited to you?
The FODMAP diet seems to be the trend lately, and I’ve had several people asking me about it recently. It is gaining popularity in the media, on blogs and in research studies. 1 Does this mean it’s another awful fad diet, or does it have some merit? The truth is that the FODMAP diet is only worth considering […]
Stomach acid and the possible underlying causes of heartburn
Acid reflux, or gastroesophogeal reflux disorder (GERD), occurs when acid from your stomach flows backwards through the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that separates the oesophagus from the stomach, into your oesophagus. 1 Heartburn, the burning feeling you get behind your breastbone that sometimes feels like you’re having a heart attack, and travels up your throat, […]
Inflammation, sugar and metabolic syndrome
It is highly likely that you will have experienced some type of inflammation at some point in your life, whether it has been in your joints, around the point of an injury, or after exercise. Inflammation is a healthy immune response to invaders such as certain bacteria and viruses, and anything trying to damage the cells in […]