It’s difficult to overestimate the role that microbes and immune processes play in shaping the human physiology. Over the past couple of decades, it has become increasingly clear that the microbiome is at the center of human health and well-being, in the sense that our health status is largely determined by the composition and workings […]
Microbial Exposure
Ask Eirik: What Types of Medicines Can Help Restore the Health of Homo Sapiens?
Quite recently, I was contacted by a person who was thinking about investing in companies that seek to develop wellness products that could one day be used to treat human disease. He was interested to know what types of products that I believed would bring the most benefit to the greatest number of people. In […]
Why You Should Think Twice Before Using Probiotics
I’ve talked a lot about probiotics here on the site in the past. In my earlier articles on this topic (e.g., here, here), I’ve made the case that many probiotic products likely do more harm than good. In today’s article, I’m not going to take another in-depth look at the pros and cons of probiotic […]
Stop Bombarding Your Gut With Probiotics
One of the biggest diet mistakes I’ve ever made was to take in large quantities of probiotics (in the form of fermented foods and supplements) on a daily basis. This behaviour harmed my microbiome and undermined my health. Unlike what a lot of people seem to believe, probiotics – microorganisms that are believed to provide […]
Biome Reconstitution: What Mark Zuckerberg Should be Investing In
In my previous article here at Darwinian-Medicine.com I took a critical look at Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to cure all diseases. I made the case that pumping billions of dollars into the development of new drugs and advanced medical technology is not the way to combat the chronic diseases of civilization. Health disorders such as obesity, […]
Diversify Your Microbiome With Fermented Vegetables
Fermented vegetables could change your life. Sauerkraut, kimchi, and other similar food products contain many different types of bacteria, including the probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis. Many, if not most, of the microscopic organisms found in fermented vegetables are not able to live and grow in the human gut; hence, they pass through you […]
How Probiotics Could Damage Your Microbiome
Not so long ago I published a post entitled “Probiotic Supplements: Are They Doing You More Harm Than Good?” here on the blog. In that article I made the case that many, if not most, probiotic supplements likely do more harm than good. This notion goes against conventional wisdom in this area, which says that […]
Why You Can’t Drug the Microbiome Into Compliance
We humans are always looking for quick and simple solutions to our problems. When we have the choice between a comfortable path, which is flat and easy to travel, and a path that is steeper and harder to travel, but that eventually gets us to a higher point than the comfortable one, we usually choose […]
12 Evidence-Based Steps to a Healthier Microbiome
The trillions of microorganisms that live in and on your body have a profound impact on your mood, behaviour, and overall health. By taking better care of your microbiome, you can dramatically reduce your risk of chronic disease, boost your brain function, and slow down age-related physical and mental decline. Few, if any, people in […]
Probiotic Supplements: Are They Doing You More Harm Than Good?
The probiotic market has grown exponentially over the past few years. Pills and drinks containing probiotics – live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host – are no longer just niche products purchased by health aficionados, but rather something that “everyone” now seems to incorporate into their dietary regime. […]