Could your gut health predict how many years you have left on this earth? Scientists think that our microbiome can explain more about our health than our some of our genes can. Science Magazine explains that Braden Tierney, a computational biologist at Harvard Medical School, has investigated the microbiome in his study that could potentially identify markers in both the microbiome and genes of patients to diagnose diseases. One reason our microbiome is a good predictor of our health is because it’s changed by our environment, so it can help diagnose diseases like type II diabetes that is also impacted by one’s environment. However, there is much to be learned about our microbiome and it’s unclear to scientists why it can cause death or disease, but scientists are eager to discover what our microbes say about us.
Due to new technological advances, scientists are able to examine the DNA of organisms without having to keep them alive. Phys.org explains that the Integrative Human Biome Project in 2014 has allowed scientists to begin investigating the complexity of the microbiome. Phys.org expresses that different factors contribute to the makeup of each individual’s microbiome. For example, family members are likely to share similar microbiome and factors like type of delivery at birth effects which bacteria colonize the newborn gut. Also, whether one is active and their diet can affect the microbiota. What else effects our microbiota and how do we maintain a healthy microbiota?
Phys.org also says that scientists think that cutting down fats and increasing fiber in the diet which feeds microbes can be beneficial. I think scientists should keep investigating the microbiome because it could prolong the lives of individuals who maybe are genetically predisposed to certain diseases. Also, cardiovascular disease and obesity are two of the leading causes of death in the United States, so discovering ways in which we can improve the health of our microbiota may be a way to combat these diseases. Overall, our gut health is important for not only digesting foods, storing energy, breaking down fats and sugars, but now scientists are discovering that it could be linked to diseases that lead to death. Maintaining a proper diet and exercise is very important for the overall health of individuals, so I am curious to see what scientists discover regarding the microbiota and ways we can improve it.
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