A new study in the 2024 Cell Host & Microbe Journal shows that the human gut microbiome has an interesting role in maintaining homeostasis. (By the way, homeostasis is just a fancy medical term for being in a state of being healthy and balanced.) Anyway, the microbiome is where some of the body’s good bacteria live. This study shows that this bacterium, called segmented-filamental bacteria-are able to kill viruses such as RSV, Covid and influenza.
Do you need more reasons to take better care of your gut? Ok. Did you know that:
- Eighty percent (80%) of the human immune system lies within the gut. Or,
- That your gut communicates and cooperates with your brain for managing many types of neurological, psychological, and hormonal functions (In short, directly tying your gut health to your mental health and the reason why the gut is often referred to as the second brain.)
- That recent studies indicate that disorders of the brain, such as Parkinsons and Alzheimer’s, may be the result of the degeneration of intestinal neurons. The latter of which are the pathways from the gut to the brain. (The findings of other studies indicate the diabetes, and alcohol consumption to also be a factor) And finally,
- That lining of the intestinal track is only one cell thick and said lining is the only thing that separates our gut from our blood stream. What protects bad bacteria from infiltrating our blood stream are the white blood cells (the cells that fight infection) that are found in and around the tube of our intestinal tract. As a matter of fact, 75% of all the white blood cells in our bodies are found here.