YOU & YOUR HEALTH
Research round up
NEW FRONTIERS NEW FRONTIERS:
RESEARCH ROUND UP
INTERESTING NEW RESEARCH OF INTEREST TO HOLISTIC THERAPISTS AND THEIR CLIENTS… MICROBIOME: 140,000 VIRUS SPECIES FOUND IN HUMAN GUT We may have heard quite enough about viruses over the past year, but scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute have performed an analysis of over 28,000 gut microbiome samples. They discovered over 140,000 different viral species living in the human gut, More than half of these species had never been observed before. Dr Alexandre Almeida, Postdoctoral Fellow at EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, commented, “It’s important to remember that not all viruses are harmful, but represent an integral component of the gut ecosystem. For one thing, most of the viruses we found have DNA as their genetic material, which is different from the pathogens most people know, such as SARS-CoV-2 or Zika, which are RNA viruses. Secondly, these samples came mainly from healthy individuals who didn’t share any specific diseases. It’s fascinating to see how many unknown species live in our gut, and to try and unravel the link between them and human health.” Ref: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.029
the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day – and the average was 3.7 portions per day. Fewer men than women meet the five-a-day guideline, and young people aged 16 to 24 are also less likely than other adults to get their five-a-day. In 2018, 18% of children aged 5 to 15 ate five standard portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Compared to those who consumed two servings of fruit and vegetables per day, participants who consumed five servings a day of fruits and vegetable had a 13% lower risk of death from all causes; a 12% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke; a 10% lower risk of death from cancer; and a 35% lower risk of death from respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Starchy vegetables, such as peas and corn,
fruit juices and potatoes were not associated with reduced risk of death from all causes or specific chronic diseases. Green leafy vegetables, including spinach, lettuce and kale, and fruit and vegetables rich in beta carotene and vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, berries and carrots, showed benefits. Ref: 10.1161/ CIRCULATIONAHA.120.048996
BACTERIAL TOXIN IS FOUND IN URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most prevalent forms of bacterial infections in the world, with an estimated 150 million cases each year. More than 60% of women suffer a diagnosed UTI in their lifetimes, with many more going undiagnosed. Treatment is most commonly a course of antibiotics, which wipes out the gut microflora and contributes to the problem of
NUTRITION: 2 FRUITS, 3 VEG ADDS UP TO LONGER LIFE The American Heart Association has analysed studies which represent almost two million adults and show that eating about five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, in which 2 are fruits and 3 are vegetables, appears to be the optimal amount for a longer life. Eating more than this did not appear to confer additional benefits. The UK Health Survey for England suggested that in 2018 – the latest year for which figures are available - only 28% of adults were eating
62
HOLISTIC THERAPIST 2021
holistictherapistmagazine.com
