THE BIOME BUZZ
BUGS AND WORMS AND OTHER GREAT STUFF
Category: depression
Probiotics and Mental Health: A Review of Human Studies
As regular readers of this blog know, one of my particular areas of interest is the relationship of the gut biome to mental health, including memory and cognition. Very early on, if you remember, I told you the story of losing my grandmother to… Continue Reading “Probiotics and Mental Health: A Review of Human Studies”
L. reuteri: A Review of Its Many Known Benefits
A very happy New Year to you all. I hope your holidays were wonderful. First, an update on me. You may have noticed that I have been writing posts less regularly. My new business has really taken off, and I am working insane hours. … Continue Reading “L. reuteri: A Review of Its Many Known Benefits”
Helminthic Therapy: A Review of the Current Status of Research
A couple of weeks ago, I found an interesting article in The Scientist that does a great job of summarizing the current status of helminth research.[i] I have been too busy in my “real” life to read it though, until this past weekend. So,… Continue Reading “Helminthic Therapy: A Review of the Current Status of Research”
IBD, the Microbiome, Mental Health: Inflammation is the Key
The link between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and mental health issues has long been observed, and I have covered the topic before on this blog. (Look here and here, for example.) On the one hand, it makes sense: living with persistent pain, diarrhea, fatigue,… Continue Reading “IBD, the Microbiome, Mental Health: Inflammation is the Key”
Prebiotics: What We Currently Know About Their Use in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases
One of the questions I get asked the most by my readers is “what prebiotic and/or probiotic is the best?” Unfortunately, there is no good answer to that because we just don’t have the research to know. To boot, everyone’s body is different. Still,… Continue Reading “Prebiotics: What We Currently Know About Their Use in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases”
Even at “Acceptable” Levels, Glyphosate Disrupts the Bacterial Microbiome (rodent study)
My regular readers know that I have been closely following the growing body of research into the effects of glyphosates on human health. There has been huge controversy over this for years now. While humans do not have the shikimate pathway that glyphosate (the… Continue Reading “Even at “Acceptable” Levels, Glyphosate Disrupts the Bacterial Microbiome (rodent study)”
FMT and Psychiatric Issues: What We Know Now
My long-time readers may remember my tirade from almost 4 years ago re: the FDA denying patients the right to use natural treatments like helminths and fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) as they see fit. I had been (and still am) incensed after reading a… Continue Reading “FMT and Psychiatric Issues: What We Know Now”
Stress, Depression, the Microbiome: A Possible Mechanism of Action Revealed!
For years, I’ve covered the developing story about the relationship between the gut biome and depression and mood disorders. With a son diagnosed with autism, who has severe anxiety issues (like so many of my students with autism diagnoses), research into this is one… Continue Reading “Stress, Depression, the Microbiome: A Possible Mechanism of Action Revealed!”
Probiotics, Omega 3s and Chronic Inflammation: Part 1
As I am always on the lookout for things we can do now, I was particularly interested in reading a new paper just published in the journal Nutrients which reviewed what we know about using probiotics together with omega-3 fatty acids to reduce chronic… Continue Reading “Probiotics, Omega 3s and Chronic Inflammation: Part 1”
Treating Psychiatric Disorders with Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Maybe it’s me who’s weird (ok – it’s definitely me who’s weird!), but unlike many people it seems, I don’t find the idea of the organisms of the biome, including worms (helminths), repulsive, nor do I think fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is disgusting…as someone… Continue Reading “Treating Psychiatric Disorders with Fecal Microbiota Transplant”
