Mind

Dysbiosis and gut inflammation have been linked to both anxiety and depression, and a recent study found that the gut bacteria of people with type 2 diabetes and obesity could cause anxiety, depression and obsessive behaviour. Meanwhile, stress was found to affect the microbiome in the same way as a junk food diet.​

​Heart

An unhealthy gut can cause inflammation, which can predispose people to heart disease. A 2018 study found a significant correlation between the diversity of the gut microbiome and artery health. The less diverse the good bacteria, the stronger the link to hardening of the arteries - a feature of cardiovascular disease. 

Sleep

Scientists are beginning to suspect a strong link between gut and sleep health, given the relationships between sleep deprivation, obesity and weight gain. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is being explored as one of the diseases linked to our gut flora, as up to 90% of people with CFS also have irritable bowel syndrome. A study investigating this relationship was able to identify several species of bacteria significantly associated with CFS.

Allergies

Low bacterial diversity has been linked to allergic diseases that develop during childhood, including eczema, asthma and food intolerances. French researchers recently isolated gut bacteria responsible for certain skin allergies, and noticed that these microbes also caused greater intestinal permeability. This allows bacterial migration to the spleen and lymph nodes, increasing the severity of allergic skin reactions. Another study found that the presence of clostridia, a common class of gut bacteria, can protect against food intolerances. Children who are given antibiotics in their first year of life also have higher rates of asthma, which is thought to be down to reducing the diversity of micro-organisms present in the gut. Further studies have confirmed that wiping out particular bacteria significantly increases the risk of developing childhood asthma.

GUT Connections!

It's been called our 'second brain' and influences everything from the condition of our skin to cardiovascular health.

Joints

Scientists have long believed that osteoarthritis in those who are obese was caused by excess wear and tear on the joints, but new evidence suggests it is again due to the microbiome. A 2018 study found that a high-fat diet encouraged an increase in harmful bacteria in the gut. The caused inflammation throughout the body, leading to rapid joint deterioration. A common prebiotic supplement (found in bananas, onions and Jerusalem artichokes) helped to promote good bacteria and stifle the bad. This did not help with weight loss, but it did reverse other symptoms, resulting in healthy guts and healthy joints.

Weight

It turns out it's not just what we eat that affects our weight- it's also how our gut deals with what we're putting into it - and this is down to the microbiome, the micro-organisms that live in the gut. A study looking at waist-fat build-up (strongly associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity) found that 67.7% of gut activity could be put down to environmental factors, compared to 17.9% due to hereditary factors. This means that the way an individual's gut processes and distributes fat can be changed by altering the microbiome. Scientists also discovered an anti-inflammatory protein NLRP12, promotes healthy gut bacteria that help curb obesity, and this protein was underactive in people who are obese. It's also been suggested that specific activities of gut bacteria could be the reason some people are unable to lose weight as easily as others.

Brain

Ever felt sick before giving a presentation? Then you've experienced the power of the gut-brain connection. There's a lot more to this connection than mere nerves: micro-organisms living in the gut can even influence the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis, dementia and Parkinson's through the gut's connection to the central nervous system (CNS). Studies have shown how gut microbes can damage two types of cells that play major roles in the CNS, and it's understood that poor gut health increases inflammation throughout the body, which encourages cognitive decline, in creasing the risk of Alzheimer's.

The Gut-Brain Connection

It was recently discovered that the connection between the gut and the brain is spanned by a single synapse, relaying signals in less than 100 milliseconds - that's less than a blink of an eye. So it's no surprise our gut affects both our mood and our mental health.

Digestive System

A lack of bacterial diversity has been linked to inflammatory stomach and bowel diseases, and if you have too much of certain 'bad' strains, you're more likely to have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. And changes in microbial diversity have been linked to bowel cancer, due to the significant effect microbes have on immune cell function.

Skin

The gut and skin interact through several pathways, so each can influence the other's health. Skin allergies caused by dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) in the gut can lead to skin inflammation conditions such as acne and rosacea. The causes of this imbalance can be down to a number of factors, including diet and stress, while inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a higher risk of developing certain skin conditions.