WANTED: GUT BACTERIA DEAD OR ALIVE

There are millions of bacteria living in our guts. There are millions of dead bacteria there too. And scientists are learning just how much potential the dead ones have to improve our health

- by PROF TIM SPECTOR

The term ‘gut health’ pops up everywhere these days. But while phrases such as low-carb diets, low-fat diets and high-protein snacks have come and gone, gut health is more than just a fad. Unlike previous trends, the gut-health movement is backed by solid scientific evidence gained over two decades of discovery.

We've known that there are helpful and harmful bacteria living in our guts for a long time, but it’s only been during the last 20 years that we've come to realise just how important they can be. During that time, we've gained insights into the effects they have on our health — both physical and mental — and the influence that the foods and drinks we consume have on them.

This voyage of discovery is far from over, though, because up until now, our research has been concentrated on the bacteria that are living in our guts. But our gut microbiomes contain plenty of dead bacteria as well. And we're only just beginning to learn about the role that dead bacteria — postbiotics — has to play.

YOUR MICROBIOME AND YOUR HEALTH

Collectively termed the microbiome, each of us has trillions of microbes that live on and in us. We are, in short, teeming with life. Although distributed widely, most microorganisms are in our gut, specifically our large intestine — the final section of our gastrointestinal tracts, right before the exit.

Until 20 years ago, scientists believed that our gut microbiome was fairly incidental and not particularly significant for our general health. We knew that the microorganisms living in our guts helped break down some of our food, but beyond that, they were considered relatively unimportant and uninteresting.

We now know, however, that the microbes in our guts — the bacteria, fungi, viruses and more — are far more important for our health than we could have previously imagined. It’s becoming ever clearer that good gut health is good overall health.