Last week, I highlighted new evidence about the link between gluten and the symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Hot off the presses, we have another study about a gut-autism link. Researchers at Arizona State University (1) found a significant difference between the normal flora (bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract) of children with autism and non-autistic children.
There’s been a lot of debate over the years as to whether or not red meat consumption increases our risk of developing heart disease. In the past, much of the research has focused on the high levels of saturated fat and red meat, and their impact on blood cholesterol levels. A new study just published this month in Nature Medicine suggests a new mechanism: the difference in the type of gut bacteria between meat eaters and non-meat eaters.
Research in the area of normal flora — the “good,” or beneficial bacteria that live in our gut — has been exploding in recent years. It has been known for a long time that supplementing with probiotics (those friendly bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidus) can help with conditions ranging from eczema to allergies to irritable bowel syndrome.