Cellular Health

The Best Time to Take Omega-3 for Optimum Effectiveness

Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids is one of the most salient health trends of the past decade. Physicians are increasingly recommending these oily supplements for a variety of purposes, from helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels within normal ranges to combating the physical effects of aging. But when is the best time to take omega-3 supplements?

Most people who take these supplements believe that they can be taken at any time of day without a dramatic difference in effect. A new study suggests that this may not be the case. Could the time of day that you take your omega-3 supplement make a dramatic difference in its effects?

Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements

It is almost impossible to read the latest health news without learning about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. These oils, which are found naturally in fish, flaxseed and a variety of other sources, have been found in studies to have a variety of health benefits. These include:

• reducing the chances of having a heart attack or other life-threatening cardiac event
• protecting cellular health, particularly in the breasts, lungs, colon and prostate
• helping to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and other blood lipids that increase cardiac risk
• treating metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes
• protecting against insulin resistance and helping to maintain healthy blood glucose levels
• preserving healthy vision while reducing the risk of blindness and other vision loss
• encouraging brain growth and development both in pregnancy and in the first several years of life
• protecting against inflammation, especially long-term inflammation that can lead to tissue damage
• promoting optimal mental health and mood and soothing anxiety
• reducing the effects of ADHD in children and adults with this disorder
• offering benefits in cases of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia

It is clear that taking an omega-3 supplement can have many physical and mental benefits. However, we are still learning how to maximize these effects.

When is the Best Time to Take Omega-3 Supplements?

According to new research, taking omega-3 fatty acids at certain times of day may increase their proven health benefits. For most health concerns, the best time to take omega-3 is at night. Taking these supplements at night will maximize their effects on inflammation, pain and cardiovascular health because night is when these pathways are most active. If you are taking a supplement for arthritic pain or to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels within normal ranges, night time is the period when your omega-3 supplement will produce optimal effects.

In addition, taking these supplements at night may minimize their side effects. “Fishy burps” and a fishy taste in the mouth are the two most complained-about side effects of these supplements. Many find that they do not notice these symptoms when they take the supplements just before retiring to bed in the evening.

For most people, taking omega-3 fatty acids at night will have the most beneficial effects on health with the fewest side effects. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Omega-3 fatty acids are absorbed best when eaten with other high-fat foods. If your fattiest meal is not in the evening, you may want to take your supplements at another time to increase the proportion that is absorbed.

The Circadian Rhythm and Medications

Omega-3 fatty acids are not the only supplements or medications for which timing can make a difference. Research has found that taking other medications and supplements at certain times of the day can increase their health benefits while reducing side effects and other unwanted factors.

For example, blood pressure medications usually work best when they are taken at night, just before bedtime. Studies have found that people who take this type of medication in the evening have a one-third lower risk of having heart attacks and strokes compared to patients who take their medications in the morning. Medications for heartburn similarly appear to work much more effectively when taken in the evening.

Part of this phenomenon is due to the circadian rhythm of disease. Every disease, and even every organ in the body, has a time of day when there is more risk. Heart attacks and strokes, for example, are more likely to occur in the early morning hours when cortisol is high. Taking medications several hours before this time ensures that there will be plenty of active ingredient in your bloodstream at the time when your body is most vulnerable.

Is an Omega-3 Supplement Right for You?

An omega-3 fatty acid supplement is not right for everyone; there are certain people who should talk to their doctor about whether this oily pill should have a permanent place in their medicine cabinet. If you do not regularly eat fatty fish or high omega-3 plant oils, you may want to consider taking a supplement. This essential fatty acid is simply too essential to completely do without.

In addition, you should consider taking an omega-3 supplement if you are concerned about any of the health concerns omega-3 can benefit. People who suffer from osteoarthritis or heart disease, for example, should talk to their doctors about whether this supplement is right for them.

The Western diet is low in fish oils and other healthy fats. However, the science is clear: People need omega-3 oils to thrive. Because they are extremely safe and have few possible side effects, adding one of these supplements to your regimen (and taking it at night!) will likely be a net positive for your well-being.

Vitamin A and Skin Cancer: Can Getting Enough Reduce Your Risk?

Aug 16 by Ewcopywriting

Vitamin A is an important nutrient that helps our bodies grow and develop. Even in adulthood, it provides far-reaching benefits, helping to keep our reproductive systems, eyes and skin healthy. Getting sufficient amounts of vitamin A helps skin retain its smooth, youthful appearance, but until recently, it wasn’t known to provide any additional benefits to skin health. New studies suggest an increased intake of vitamin A can help fight off various types of skin cancer.

New Research Finds Link Between Vitamin A and Skin Cancer

Recently, the results from a joint international study may have uncovered more ways that vitamin A helps the skin. The study examined how vitamin A intake affected the development of a common form of skin cancer, known as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. This study, led by Dr. Jongwoo Kim, aimed to establish whether an increased intake of vitamin A and carotenoids would lower someone’s chances of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

In attempting to find a link between vitamin A and skin cancer, the researchers evaluated health data from 75,170 women and 48,400 men. The average age of the women was 50.4 and the average age for the men was 54.3. The study involved follow-up research spanning a period of 26 years. Within those 26 years, the researchers found that there were 3,978 cases of skin cancer among the men and women, collectively.

The participants in the study filled out a survey every four years throughout the 26-year interval. Among other factors, they were asked to report on their vitamin A intake. Once this was compared to the incidences of skin cancer, it was found that a higher amount of vitamin A appeared to reduce the risks of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The researchers also noted that the vitamin A intake reported in the study came mostly from food sources.

How to Tell If You Have a Vitamin A Deficiency

A vitamin A deficiency can result in serious consequences for both adults and children. Up to 500,000 instances of child blindness are attributed to vitamin A deficiencies each year. Vitamin A deficiency is also blamed for night blindness and maternal deaths in pregnant women. Additionally, the immune system is compromised when vitamin A is deficient, raising the risk of death from conditions like diarrhea, malaria and measles.

Some common signs of a vitamin A deficiency include:

dry skin and/or dry eyes
night blindness
infertility or problems conceiving a child
stunted growth in children
respiratory tract infections
slow wound healing

Men should consume up to 900 micrograms of vitamin A per day, while women should get at least 700 micrograms. Even though getting enough vitamin A is important, getting too much can be just as dangerous to your health. Taking very high amounts of vitamin A can lead to hypervitaminosis A, which is also known as vitamin A toxicity. Usually, hypervitaminosis A is caused by “megavitamin therapy,” which involves mega-dosing on vitamin A to prevent or treat certain diseases, or long-term use of acne treatments that contain large amounts of vitamin A.

Symptoms of hypervitaminosis A include:

vision changes
bone swelling
dry or rough skin
mouth sores
mental confusion

If you’re concerned about your vitamin A intake, you should consult your doctor.

Natural Ways to Boost Vitamin A Intake

You may not be getting enough vitamin A. In that case, taking a daily supplement can help you get the vitamin A your body needs for good health. A high-quality dietary supplement can help you boost your intake without overdoing it. This can be especially beneficial on days that you don’t consume many vitamin A-rich foods, such as those listed below.

Salmon

This fish provides a vast array of health benefits, including providing 25 percent of the recommended intake of vitamin A. Additionally, it’s a good source of vitamin B12, selenium, potassium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Carrots

Either cooked or raw, carrots provide a good portion of your vitamin A needs. They also provide the body with iron, copper, vitamin C and vitamin K. Carrots are also an excellent source of fiber.

Goat Cheese

Because it’s low in sodium, goat cheese is often a preferred source of vitamin A. It will also provide you with vitamin D and calcium, which are essential to strong and healthy skin and bones.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin can be eaten in a variety of different ways, including pumpkin pie, and still provide your body with a diverse selection of nutrients. In addition to being a good source of vitamin A, pumpkin also has potassium, vitamin C and vitamin E. It has also been found to help lower the risks of developing type 2 diabetes.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eating hard-boiled eggs is easy, because they can be added to a number of different dishes. In addition to possessing a high vitamin A content, some research suggests eggs can also lower the risks of developing cataracts. They may also help improve cognitive functioning.

As more research explores the link between vitamin A intake and skin cancer, it seems clear that this vitamin is essential to skin health. Since skin cancer is a growing problem, finding more effective ways of preventing and treating it is essential. Ensuring you get enough vitamin A every day may be one way to protect against the development of skin cancer. Vitamin A can benefit your health in other ways as well, helping you to live a longer and higher-quality life.

Diversity of Gut Microbiome Influences Prostate Cancer

Aug 07 by Ewcopywriting

The prostate gland is a small organ that’s similar in size and shape to a walnut. It’s linked to the sexual health of men in that it’s responsible for producing seminal fluid, which helps carry sperm to the penis. The prostate gland is a common target for cancer in men, but, because it develops slowly, prostate cancer may not produce observable symptoms right away. There are a number of known risk factors for prostate cancer, as well as natural ways to help protect against this common condition. Now, recent research has discovered that the health of the gut microbiome influences prostate cancer, suggesting a more diverse microbiome can help lower cancer risks.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate gland, and is one of the most common types of cancer to affect men. In many cases, the cancer may stay confined to the prostate gland and may not grow large enough to pose health risks. In other cases, it may grow and spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, it’s better to diagnose prostate cancer as early as possible, so it can be treated before it has a chance to spread.

Some of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer include:

decreased need to urinate
less powerful urine stream
semen that’s mixed with blood
soreness or discomfort in the pelvic area
bone pain
trouble achieving or maintaining an erection

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors and Treatment

The underlying cause of prostate cancer is still unknown, but as with other cancers, it begins with the growth of abnormal or mutated cells. As the number of abnormal cells begins to outgrow the number of healthy cells, they gather together to form a tumor. As the tumor grows, it may grow large enough to pierce the tissue of the gland and spread to the rest of the body. Alternatively, some of the mutated cells can break away and travel to other parts of the body, in a process known as metastasis.

While we don’t know what causes prostate cancer to develop, the following risk factors can determine how likely an individual is of contracting the illness:

Age: Older men are at a greater risk.
Ethnicity: Black men face higher risks.
Family History: If there is a history of prostate cancer or breast cancer in your family, your risk is greater.
Obesity: Obese men face a greater risk that prostate cancer will spread or metastasize.

Prostate cancer can be treated in a number of ways. If it has remained confined to the prostate gland, the best option may be simply to remove the gland altogether. Alternatively, radiation therapy may help eradicate the cancer while leaving the gland intact. Hormone therapy is a relatively newer option, which involves depriving the cancer of the testosterone that it needs to thrive and grow. Hormone blockers stop the supply of testosterone and, as a result, the cancer weakens and dies off. The treatments your doctor recommends will depend on the severity and nature of the cancer.

New Study Finds Health of Gut Microbiome Influences Prostate Cancer

In a recent study, researchers hoped to understand how the gut microbiome influences prostate cancer, particularly in the way certain bacteria affect inflammation and infection in the prostate gland. They found that the best way to determine these bacterial influences was to examine the seminal fluid of healthy men, as well as those who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Additionally, prostatic fluid samples were taken from each subject. Prostatic fluid is an alkaline-based fluid that makes up part of the seminal fluid. Once the samples were taken, each of the men also submitted to a tissue biopsy. Of the 59 subjects recruited for the study, 32 of the men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. This left them with 27 men with healthy prostate glands.

When tested, it was found that all of the men possessed high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). This is an enzyme secreted by the prostate gland and it’s commonly found to exist in higher levels in men with prostate cancer. However, PSA count alone isn’t enough to diagnose someone with prostate cancer, because PSA levels may be higher for any number of reasons.

After all of the samples were analyzed, the researchers found that the men with prostate cancer exhibited less bacterial diversity than those subjects with healthier prostate glands. The researchers said the findings led them to believe that a more diverse microbiome could help limit the advancement of prostate cancer.

While they admit more research is needed, they say the study does show a link between a diverse gut microbiome and a healthy prostate gland. In particular, they found that the presence of certain types of bacteria (Carnobacterium, Enterobacter, Geobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus) could affect how prostate cancer developed and grew. In the future, a test for these types of bacteria might be able to identify men who are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

Natural Ways to Promote a Diverse Gut Microbiome

If you’re concerned that your gut microbiome isn’t as diverse as it should be, a few lifestyle changes may help. Below, there are listed a few tips that can help you naturally improve the diversity of your microbiome.

Eat a Diverse, Plant-Based Diet

The foods you eat play a major role in building a diverse gut microbiome, but only if you’re eating healthy, natural foods. You can start by reducing your intake of sugar and trans-fats, but also strive to consume a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts.

Eat Fermented Products

Foods that are fermented, such as yogurt and sauerkraut, possess a wider range of bacteria. By eating more of these foods, you can introduce a much more diverse range of bacteria into your microbiome.

Take a Dietary Supplement

You may have heard about probiotics and prebiotics, especially if you’re concerned about your physical fitness and digestive health. While probiotics can be found in certain foods, there are also supplements on the market that can help you increase the amounts of probiotics you introduce into your system. Taking a high-quality protiotic/prebiotic supplement can help you build up a diverse microbiome.

E-Cigarettes Risks Include Stroke, Heart Attack and Cancer

Jul 19 by Ewcopywriting

E-cigarettes first rose in popularity as a means of kicking the tobacco habit, and they were originally thought to offer a healthier way to feed the addiction to nicotine. In just a few years, smoking e-cigarettes, or vaping as it’s more commonly known, has grown to become a fad of its own. While adults do use these products, vaping has become especially popular among teens, raising concerns with parents who doubt these products are as harmless as they seem. Now, new studies are finding that e-cigarettes risks include stroke, heart attack and cancer. These findings are urging many to kick the vaping habit.

How is Vaping Different Than Smoking Cigarettes?

Vaping may seem to be a harmless way to obtain nicotine because there is no tobacco involved in the use of an e-cigarette. Instead, the electronic device heats a liquid product which is treated to possess distinct scents and flavors. There are a few different types of electronic devices on the market now, which include e-cigarettes and vaping pens. While the devices differ in appearance, they essentially operate in the same way. A battery inside the device heats up the e-liquid, also known as e-juice, until it becomes a vapor that the user can inhale.

It was previously believed that e-juice was nothing more than flavored water vapor, but studies of the devices have found this isn’t the case. The heating process actually creates an aerosol mist that the user inhales. While an e-liquid doesn’t contain tobacco, it does contain nicotine and other additives. Various chemicals and metals, including propylene glycol, are added to the liquid. In some cases, vegetable glycerin takes the place of the propylene glycol. Much like cigarette smoke, this aerosol mist and the chemical compounds it contains is inhaled into the lungs and then exhaled.

New Research Uncovers the True Extent of E-Cigarettes Risks

In 2016, Dr. Paul Ndunda led a cross-sectional study of 400,000 subjects to determine the long-term effects of vaping. The study examined the health risks people who smoke e-cigarettes face in comparison to the health risks for those who do not smoke. They found that vaping does increase the risks of several health conditions. Specifically, the researchers found that vaping increases the risk of stroke by 71 percent. There’s also 59 percent greater risk of suffering a heart attack, or of developing angina. In general, people who use e-cigarettes and vaping pens have a 40 percent higher chance of developing heart disease.

The heart wasn’t the only organ negatively impacted by vaping. The researchers found that vaping also increased the likelihood of developing popcorn lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). It does this by creating inflammation in the airways of the lungs, which leads to scarring in these tiny airways. As a result, the individual is likely to experience shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. This condition can sometimes be mistaken with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), because the symptoms are very similar.

The culprit in e-cigarette mist is a chemical called diacetyl. It has long been known that diacetyl causes bronchiolitis obliterans. The chemical was formerly used in popcorn factories to give popcorn its buttery flavor, but upon discovering the health hazards this compound caused, its use was discontinued. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn’t hold e-liquid manufacturers to the same standards as food manufacturers, so it’s more difficult to determine exactly what chemicals are in the e-liquids.

A recent 2019 study examining e-cigarettes risks also found that vaping increases the risk of cancer. In fact, since e-liquids contain many of the same carcinogens as tobacco cigarettes, they may be almost as likely to cause cancer. When examining the genetic changes that occur to cause smoking-related cancer, the researchers found that those same alterations are caused by vaping. What’s more, the study found that the cancer-causing changes that are produced by vaping are more likely to occur in teens, because their bodies aren’t as fully developed.

How You Can Maintain a Healthy Heart

Quit Smoking and Vaping

The single most important thing you can do for your heart health and cardiovascular system and to avoid e-cigarettes risks is to quit vaping and smoking. Both activities deliver harmful toxins into your blood supply, while also exposing you to the harmful effects of nicotine.

Get More Exercise

This is especially important if you have significant belly fat, since more fat accumulation in this area has been linked to hypertension and abnormal levels of blood lipids. At a minimum, you should be getting 30 minutes of moderate- to high-intensity exercise each day.

Take a Dietary Supplement

Even if you think otherwise, you’re probably not getting all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Taking a high-quality supplement that provides the natural ingredients necessary to keep your heart healthy and strong can help maintain cardiovascular health.

Eat a Balanced, Plant-Based Diet

While you can still eat a portion of lean red meat with each meal, the bulk of your meals should be made up of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes. Additionally, switch to whole grains for better overall health.

Avoid Processed Foods

Pre-packaged food should be avoided as much as possible. These processed foods often contain high levels of refined sugar and trans fats, which will affect blood flow and cause weight gain.

Take Up a Hobby

Whether you enjoy building plastic models, knitting or doing crossword puzzles, it’s important to find hobbies that relax you. As you engage in stress-relieving activities, you’ll reduce the levels of stress hormones in your blood and this will help alleviate inflammation. Lowering inflammation means the heart won’t have to work as hard to efficiently pump blood throughout your body.

Prostate Cancer Urine Test Detects Cancer Earlier Than Traditional Methods

Jul 15 by Ewcopywriting

The prostate gland, located beneath the bladder just in front of the rectum, is essential to male health in that it helps produce certain compounds that make up semen, while also helping regulate urination. Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men. While it is treatable when diagnosed early, the American Cancer Society estimates that of the approximately 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer each year, nearly 26,730 cases will be fatal. Now, a new prostate cancer urine test may help diagnose the illness even sooner than is currently typical. When combined with certain lifestyle changes and effective treatment, early diagnosis may improve the chances of beating this common cancer.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer has been difficult to diagnose in the past, because the symptoms may be minimal or not present at all. In general, the following symptoms may be observed in the early stages of the illness:

frequent need to urinate, even at night
trouble urinating, including difficulty in maintaining the stream
urine contaminated with blood
urinating and ejaculation may be painful
difficulty developing or maintaining an erection

Once the illness advances, the symptoms become more severe, making it easier to obtain a diagnosis. In the late stages, prostate cancer causes bone pain and increases the risks of developing bone fractures. Pain will be especially pronounced in the femur, ribs, pelvis and spine.

There are many treatment options available to men with an early diagnosis of prostate cancer, and the success rate is much higher when the illness is diagnosed early. In some cases, the prostate may be surgically removed. This ensures the cancer won’t spread to other organs in the body. In other cases, radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland. This treatment, called brachytherapy, lets a doctor target the cancer cells directly, eliminating them safely. Depending on the location and size of the cancer, other types of radiation therapy may be used.

When prostate cancer grows more severe, it becomes harder to treat. In some situations, aggressive chemotherapy may be the best option. Another treatment is advanced hormone suppression therapy, which targets the androgens that can stimulate cancer growth in men. This type of treatment is usually considered to be a long-term, or ongoing, form of therapy.

Research Leads to Game-Changing Prostate Cancer Urine Test

A recent study conducted in the U.K. uncovered a way to use urine samples to identify the development of prostate cancer up to five years earlier than traditional diagnostic methods. A group of 535 men were asked to provide urine samples, which the researchers tested for the cell-free expression found in 167 different types of genes. From that group, the scientists were able to identify 36 gene markers that indicated a likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Dubbed the PUR test, this prostate cancer urine test would look for those genetic markers that raise the likelihood of developing prostate cancer in men.

Dr. Jeremy Clark, one of the researchers involved in the study, says this test is revolutionary in the degree of accuracy it provides. In addition to determining if an individual is at risk for prostate cancer, he says the degree of risk can also be determined. This test can take the place of more invasive procedures in some cases, which involve taking biopsies via the use of long needles.

Even more surprising was the fact that the PUR test could predict the development of cancer up to five years before traditional tests would provide a diagnosis. This means patients can be treated more successfully, while the cancer is still in the very early stages of development. Patients could be monitored for cancer growth once their risk of developing the illness was established. As soon as cancer cells were identified, treatment could begin to eradicate the growing cells.

There are already some screenings that men can undergo to determine their risk of developing prostate cancer. Most of these tests, such as a digital rectal exam, will look for masses that may potentially be prostate cancer. If something is found, a biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis. While a biopsy may still be necessary following a PUR test, this test’s ability to diagnose the level of risk can help doctors anticipate prostate cancer earlier. Catching it early means treating the illness with less invasive procedures and improving the potential for a full recovery.

Natural Methods for Promoting Better Prostate Health

Fortunately, there are many natural ways for you to improve the health of your prostate gland. Even if your risk of developing prostate cancer is high, employing some of these suggestions can help you strengthen the prostate gland. This may reduce your risk of cancer growth.

Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods

By eating foods that will help alleviate inflammation, you can maintain a healthier prostate gland. These foods include oily fish, plant-based foods and whole grains.

Avoid Foods That Are Likely to Harm Prostate Health

As you might expect, foods in this group include those with high sugar content and high trans-fats. Artificial sweeteners, processed foods and fried foods are also common culprits.

Take a Dietary Supplement

There are many supplements on the market that help improve overall health. Some effective natural supplements are specifically engineered to boost prostate health. Adding them to your diet can give you the natural boost your body needs to resist developing health problems.

Lose Weight

Obesity can instigate a number of health problems. For men, this includes an enlarged prostate and urinary tract infections. By engaging in more physical activity and burning off excess fat, you can lower the health risks to your prostate gland.

Since one in nine men are likely to develop prostate cancer, regular check-ups are essential. By visiting your doctor once per year, you may be able to identify prostate problems and other health concerns before they become too serious.

Gut Bacteria and Cancer: An Unhealthy Gut Microbiome May Drive the Spread of Breast Cancer

Jun 26 by Ewcopywriting

While your body is comprised of trillions of human cells, it’s also home to trillions of fungi, bacteria and other foreign microbes. A large portion of these reside in the large intestine, and scientists refer to this community as the “gut microbiome.” Until fairly recently, little attention was paid to this realm, but we now recognize that the microbes housed in the large intestine serve a variety of essential functions. In fact, we now consider the gut microbiome to be an extra organ that functions to help us stay healthy. Now, a newly discovered link between gut bacteria and cancer may hold important answers for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in women.

How Does the Gut Microbiome Affect Overall Health?

The most studied microbes in the large intestine are bacteria, because there are so many different kinds of bacteria in the body. There are actually more bacterial cells than there are human cells in the body. There are over 1,000 different types of bacteria that reside in the human body, and researchers have found that each kind of bacteria performs a unique function. Some of these bacteria are harmful, increasing the likelihood of developing specific medical conditions. Other types of bacteria are good for us, helping to maintain health and boost immunity. A diverse and well-balanced gut microbiome has been found to play a significant role in overall health and wellness.

When we are born, some microbes already inhabit the gut microbiome, enabling us to digest certain foods. The population of microbes in the large intestine starts to grow almost as soon as we’re born. Both our mother’s breast milk and the air we breathe contain bacteria that make their way into the gut microbiome. Once there, they begin to provide us with many healthy benefits. As we develop dietary tastes and pursue new experiences, still more types of microbes are ingested, helping to create a more diverse gut microbiome.

Cultivating a fully diverse gut microbiome will ultimately benefit overall health by:

Assisting in the digestion of fiber. Certain types of bacteria can help the body digest fiber more efficiently. This may help you lower your risks of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
Improving immune system functioning. Research has found that the gut microbiome communicates with the body’s immune system. A diverse bacterial population can communicate better with immune cells, strengthening protection against infection and disease.
Maintaining brain health. More recent research has found evidence that healthy brain functioning is supported by the gut microbiome. The microbes in your large intestine communicate with the central nervous system, which sends messages to the brain. In this way, a diverse gut microbiome may help stave off cognitive degeneration.

New Study Links Gut Bacteria and Cancer

Today, the methods for treating breast cancer have improved considerably, offering a better chance for women suffering from the condition. However, metastatic breast cancer is a more complicated concern in that it involves treating cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Unfortunately, metastatic breast cancer is a growing problem that already affects more than 154,794 women annually. In many cases, breast cancer has already metastasized by the time patients are diagnosed.

Most women develop HR (hormone receptor)-positive breast cancer, which is a type of cancer that’s driven by hormone production. Specifically, progesterone and estrogen are responsible for the growth of this type of cancer. HR-positive breast cancer responds well to treatment and is less likely to spread to other parts of the body.

However, HR-negative breast cancer isn’t so easily treated. It often metastasizes in the early stages, making it more difficult to treat. In addition to increased hormone levels, a high population of immune cells, called macrophages, can also increase the likelihood of advanced breast cancer. When there’s also an increase of collagen, which is a structural protein found in human tissue, the chances of breast cancer spreading to other areas of the body is maximized.

Looking for ways to prevent metastatic breast cancer has led some researchers to uncover a link between gut bacteria and cancer. A study conducted at Charlottesville’s University of Virginia sought to understand how gut bacteria influence the development and spread of breast cancer. In the study, mice with HR-positive mammary cancer were administered powerful antibiotics, which targeted the gut microbiomes of the test mice. Additionally, unbalanced gut microbiomes were transferred into the mice via fecal samples to ensure the processes normally conducted by the gut microbiome were inhibited.

Dr. Melanie Rutkowski reported that as a result of disrupting the gut microbiome’s processes, inflammation spread to the mammaries. The increased inflammation made it possible for cancer cells to be carried by the blood to the lungs, which is where breast cancer often first metastasizes. Dr. Rutkowski believes the research suggests that the health of the gut microbiome can indicate the likelihood of developing metastatic breast cancer.

Although the study used antibiotics to achieve these results, Dr. Rutkowski says the research isn’t meant to imply that antibiotics are harmful to women with breast cancer. She points out that a human dose of antibiotics proportionate to that used in the study would be far greater than anything a doctor would prescribe. What she does hope people will take away from this study is that maintaining a healthy and diverse gut microbiome is essential to good health.

To ensure an optimally healthy gut microbiome, eat a healthy diet, consisting of larger portions of plant-based foods, whole grains and lean meat. Taking a high-quality prebiotic/probiotic supplement can offer additional support for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Frequent exercise and quality sleep will also help the gut microbiome thrive and that will help to strengthen general immunity.