Source to learn about gut flora / probiotics.
October 11, 2024 6:50 AM
I need a single source to learn about gut flora / probiotics in the context of unhappy tummies. I just can't take any more google searches or reddit scrolling. Can you recommend me a single book (etc), based on science, not too dumbed down and not too woo?
If you can overlook that they'd ideally like to sell you something, the ZOE podcast is quite good, and is accompanied by a lot of useful blog posts.
Related, there's a book by the co-founder: Food for Life by Tim Spector. It's broader than you're really looking for, but you might find it interesting.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 7:57 AM on October 11
Related, there's a book by the co-founder: Food for Life by Tim Spector. It's broader than you're really looking for, but you might find it interesting.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 7:57 AM on October 11
Harvard Health Publishing has several short articles about probiotics and prebiotics that are clear, concise, and offer the same advice, which is to use food sources of probiotics to get the best effect from them, that OTC products are not reliable. https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/are-you-getting-essential-nutrients-from-your-diet.
There is a much more scientific discussion of the role of probiotics at the NIH that is really comprehensive and points to other articles for more specifics in each area it covers. If you find that too challenging, maybe use search terms from that article to find more accessible sources.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8512487/
posted by drossdragon at 9:46 AM on October 11
There is a much more scientific discussion of the role of probiotics at the NIH that is really comprehensive and points to other articles for more specifics in each area it covers. If you find that too challenging, maybe use search terms from that article to find more accessible sources.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8512487/
posted by drossdragon at 9:46 AM on October 11
May be more other info that you want, but I found the book Gut to be extremely informative.
posted by gingerbeer at 12:09 PM on October 11
posted by gingerbeer at 12:09 PM on October 11
came to recommend the Zoe podcast as well, despite the sales pitches for their new supplement product and nutrition plan (although disclaimer, I am in the middle of doing the program and focusing on food to improve your gut biome is a huge part of the program).
Here's a couple specific episodes:
probiotics after antibiotics
And a more recent one about the gut in general: improve your gut health
You might also check out Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz (disclaimer he's Zoe's US medical director)
posted by snowymorninblues at 12:22 PM on October 11
Here's a couple specific episodes:
probiotics after antibiotics
And a more recent one about the gut in general: improve your gut health
You might also check out Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz (disclaimer he's Zoe's US medical director)
posted by snowymorninblues at 12:22 PM on October 11
Netflix has a recent doc called "Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut" which might interest. Here's an article about it.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:25 PM on October 11
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:25 PM on October 11
I'm a doctor.
Authoritative sources for information about the gastrointestal microbiome don''t really exist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something.
The academic/clinical research is too new, and the preliminary findings too varied and as yet not reproducible, to support firm, scientifically tenable conclusions.
This isn't to say good clinical research doesn't exist; there are plenty of excellent papers, and pubmed (can't link cause I'm on my cell phobe) has hundreds if not thousands of full articles. To understand them, you'll need a strong background in statistics, physiology, and anatomy.
Avoid, or approach with great skepticism, anything written for a popular audience on the web or elsewhere.
posted by BadgerDoctor at 1:44 PM on October 11
Authoritative sources for information about the gastrointestal microbiome don''t really exist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something.
The academic/clinical research is too new, and the preliminary findings too varied and as yet not reproducible, to support firm, scientifically tenable conclusions.
This isn't to say good clinical research doesn't exist; there are plenty of excellent papers, and pubmed (can't link cause I'm on my cell phobe) has hundreds if not thousands of full articles. To understand them, you'll need a strong background in statistics, physiology, and anatomy.
Avoid, or approach with great skepticism, anything written for a popular audience on the web or elsewhere.
posted by BadgerDoctor at 1:44 PM on October 11
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=gut+microbiome&filter=simsearch2.ffrft&filter=pubt.meta-analysis&size=200
Copy and paste this url into your browser. It will take you to 350+ full text, meta-analyses of a range of subjects related to the gut microbiome.
FYI: a meta analysis is a study of the studies about a subject. It summarizes all of the available research as of the date of being published. Meta analyses are where physicians often start when first getting up to speed about a subject. They're the best,current scientifically based sources available for your purposespurpos
posted by BadgerDoctor at 2:09 PM on October 11
Copy and paste this url into your browser. It will take you to 350+ full text, meta-analyses of a range of subjects related to the gut microbiome.
FYI: a meta analysis is a study of the studies about a subject. It summarizes all of the available research as of the date of being published. Meta analyses are where physicians often start when first getting up to speed about a subject. They're the best,current scientifically based sources available for your purposespurpos
posted by BadgerDoctor at 2:09 PM on October 11
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posted by HearHere at 6:59 AM on October 11