In the bustling downtown metropolis of your digestive system, trillions of microbes jostle to feed off what you eat. These microbes, which mostly consist of bacteria, or “gut bugs”, combined with their genetic material, are your gut microbiome. Every type of gut bug has a distinct job, and they interact with each other to produce compounds that impact your body and health. Knowing what each of... Source ..read more

As we continue to better understand the many roles that the gut microbiome plays, research is showing the microbiome’s contributions to both health and disease are even more significant than previously thought. But how is it involved exactly? And why is this important? Let’s take a look at a few of your gut microbe’s key functions which have a major influence on your health and wellbeing. Source ..read more

The idea is simply to alternate between periods of eating and fasting, and there are several ways to do this. One popular method is the 16/8 protocol, where you eat all your meals within an 8-hour window (for example, 10 am to 6 pm) and fast the rest of the day. Another approach is the 5:2 method, where you restrict your caloric intake for 2 days of the week and eat a regular, healthy diet for the... Source ..read more

It is no secret that a healthy diet high in plant-based foods is important for your gut microbiome and overall health. However, researchers are now using advanced microbiome analysis technologies to explore the impact of other environmental and lifestyle factors on the gut microbiome. These studies suggest that your environment may have more of an impact on your microbiome than your genetics1! Source ..read more

The past decade has seen great advancements in gut microbiome analysis technology, led by Microba’s co-founders, Professors Phil Hugenholtz and Gene Tyson, who were able to make world-leading microbiome analysis available to the general public, right here in Australia. Through this technology, scientists are building a growing body of evidence showing the links between the microorganisms in our... Source ..read more

It has now been over 50 years since the American Heart Foundation first suggested we should be limiting egg intake to help protect us from heart disease. In that time research has helped us further understand the links between egg consumption and heart health but confusion persists as to whether eggs are a ‘healthy’ food or not. Much of the reason for this confusion is that the link between diet... Source ..read more

When we talk about “good bacteria” we might be thinking of the limited number of probiotic species found within supplements or fermented foods. However, our bodies are in fact home to many more species that together form a community of microbes known as our microbiome. Our health depends on the balance between these species, which is not solely influenced by the bacteria themselves but by what we... Source ..read more

So, you enjoyed a few celebratory drinks, dove head-first into the Christmas trifle, and had an extra helping (or six) of assorted cheeses and chutneys from various party platters – you enjoyed your holidays and that’s OK. But let’s be real, your gut health is suffering and now you’re thinking it’s high time to press reset. You may be wondering, what’s the best way to get my health in check? Source ..read more

The festive period is upon us! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, most festivities generally centre around food. While indulging on occasion won’t impact your overall health, the cumulative effect of weeks of parties and socialising over the festive season can wreak havoc on both your waistline and gut health for the rest of the year. The festive season heralds the start of... Source ..read more

Have you heard of serotonin? Many people have heard of this chemical due to its ability to promote feelings of happiness and wellbeing. What is less known, is that serotonin also plays important roles within our digestive tract, pancreas, liver and bones 1,2. Serotonin is mostly produced in your gut – where so many of our beneficial substances are formed! Most of our serotonin (approx. 90% Source ..read more