We will be watching part of the video from the NOVA
Wonder Series “What's Living in You?” The video can be accessed at the following URL:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-whats-living-in-you/
We will be watching part of the video from the NOVA
Wonder Series “What's Living in You?” The video can be accessed at the following URL:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-whats-living-in-you/
Scribe Summary: Microbes play hidden, yet key roles in our lives. There are trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in and on our bodies. Some are harmful, but many are crucial for our survival. This video examined the diverse range of the microbiome and some of the ways that altering the gut microbiome can drastically affect humans.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: As biology graduate students, we are acutely aware of the effects of our diets on our gut microbiome. But do you actively eat or shop differently based on this information? Do you take probiotic supplements?
I find it interesting that we are on the brink of discovering how microbes affect our health and behavior. It is also important to reduce the stigma that the words 'bacteria' and 'microbes' have, as many people still see them all as harmful. As we know, that couldn't be further from the truth.
DeleteI do actively try and incorporate probiotics, such as yogurts, into my diet every day, along with less fast/junk food. I found that during my undergraduate years I was experiencing more health-related issues than ever before. I decided to incorporate probiotics into my diet and have never looked back. The main benefits I have experienced are better digestive health and a seemingly better immune system (fewer illnesses that are shorter than they once were).
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DeleteThis video was very intriguing to me. I have been quite interested in the gut microbiome after developing some health problems and learning how important it is to have a healthy gut microbiome. Since developing gut issues and many food sensitivities, I have been extremely conscious of what I eat and any supplements I take. I do take probiotic supplements and a multivitamin. Both help, but food sensitivities have their own challenges to overcome. For example, I have cut out fast food from my diet and started focusing on my fitness goals. Difficult, but well worth the results. I have noticed a rather large difference between eating clean and avoiding foods that upset my gut compared to eating whatever food is most convenient. Every now and then, I do slip up and immediately regret my actions. Removing all junk food is difficult even when such foods make one very sick. Fortunately after about a rollercoaster of two years, shopping better, eating clean, and improving fitness has become my new normal lifestyle. This video has reinforced how crucial it is to maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
DeleteIn the video, I liked that they touched on the benefits of spending more time outside and being exposed to good bacteria. Luckily, I was raised in a rural area where I had no choice but to spend most days outside. I was always helping my parents outside in our garden, playing sports, and working with dairy cattle for the county fair. I still to this day find an excuse to stay outside. Sometimes it’s by doing outside work or simply doing homework on the patio. I also found it interesting that there was a lower percentage of health issues in the Amish communities. Is this because they live simple lives working outside with animals and eating mostly homegrown food? How are they exposed to more good bacteria than others? Do they, in general, have better immune systems because of their lifestyle?
ReplyDeleteI was aware that when an obese individual is undergoing weight loss surgery, they also have to change their diet. This in turn changes the microbes in their stomach to good microbes.
As an undergrad I too had health problems, I lost a lot of weight and would eat really healthy but I was experiencing a lot of fatigue, black outs, and when I would go from sitting to standing my blood pressure would drop. After months of tests, going to different doctors and blood work, the results showed that my salt level was extremely low.
I do my best to maintain a healthy diet but after watching this video I will definitely be more cautious of the foods I eat and ensure to eat healthy foods in order to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. I do take a multivitamin daily, I eat fruits and vegetables and a lot of chicken. I also use to eat yogurt daily, but due to Covid and not going to the store as often, I have not been eating yogurt as much as I should. Every summer I enjoy planting a couple vegetables. This past summer I planted cucumbers and peppers which have grown exceptionally well. I have had plenty of fresh vegetables over the past couple months!
In the video, I found it very interesting how they commented on kids and how they are exposed to good bacteria outside. I have told my family how important this is, therefore I absolutely agree with making sure kids go outside and touch many different things. I was wondering how one knows which bacteria’s are harmful and which ones are good in relation to the bacteria’s outside. Of course you should wash your hands after coming inside but do they mean to expose kids when they for instance put dirt in their mouth on occasion? Or maybe putting their hands in their mouth after touching stuff outside?
As a student of biology, I am aware of the effects that our gut microbiome can have on our health. Despite my knowledge of this, I do not exactly adjust my diet accordingly. I try to eat foods that will improve my gut health like greek yogurt; however, I definitely still indulge in fast and processed foods.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if I had a stricter diet of clean foods that benefit my gut biome health, that I would experience less fatigue and overall better energy levels. I often have issues sleeping which may be reduced with a better diet.
Because of my focus in ecology, I find it interesting how even the environment on our skin and gut requires a high diversity in microbes in order to be stable and healthy. The woman in the video who is struggling with C diff is a perfect example of an invasive species in an environment. Invasives pose huge threats in our gut as much as they do in Lake Erie, for example.
During the discussion portion, someone mentioned the impacts that the pandemic will have on our microbiome health. That comment caused me to think further on the impacts specifically on young children. They are currently kept indoors away from family members, and they rarely leave the house. Young children and babies are not currently being introduced to the bacteria filled environments that they normally would be.
This video was interesting.The microbiome is always a crucial part of our live and also the most dreaded part of nature by humans. I concur with all the above comments.
ReplyDeleteAs a biology student knowing how the microbiome works in our favor there is still fear of the unknown. The what if the children playing outside and interact with virulent microbes, this would sicken them and sometimes even be fatal. On the other hand their interaction with 'good' microbe strengthen their immune system.
Despite this knowledge finding the accurate food for gut health is still a hard task. Most of the food in stores is GMO which means it contains a lot of chemicals where some of these chemicals kill the 'good' bacteria. Therefore, the food we eat is also stripped off the 'good' bacteria thus various complication with the gut such as obesity, fatigue, lack of sleep and sugar cravings.
Poor babies they are the most impacted by pandemics. Their immune system is fragile and still under development so exposing them to pandemics pose a great danger to their health. And the fear of not being exposed risks their lack of defense mechanisms (antibodies) for that particular microbe.