"Social media influencers promote unproven supplements said to boost gut health, whilst milk and kombucha brands promise to nourish them with "good bacteria". Some have dismissed the gut-obsession as a passing fad - however many doctors think that our gut microbiome might affect a whole spectrum of things, from mental health to the likelihood of getting certain cancers. But there's another medical possibility that I'm particularly interested in: how our gut impacts how well (or badly) we age."
"He's a professor in surgery at Imperial College London and a practising colorectal surgeon - but perhaps the most colourful part of his job is that he analyses people's poo. Weeks earlier, I'd sent my own stool sample to a laboratory. Tests like these can provide insights into our gut microbiome - the trillions of microbes that live inside our stomach (including mostly bacteria, but also viruses and funghi)."
Public fascination with the gut has surged, driven by influencers, supplements, and products claiming to deliver "good bacteria". Many clinicians believe the gut microbiome can influence mental health, cancer risk, and potentially the ageing process, including longevity and physical resilience in later life. Stool testing can reveal microbiome composition, and clinicians such as a colorectal surgeon at Imperial College assess such samples as part of research into ageing. Some experts caution that the microbiome's role in ageing may be overstated and emphasize the need for more rigorous research. The central question is whether modifying gut health can meaningfully improve ageing outcomes.
Read at www.bbc.com
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