This past week I’ve been taking in more salt than what I usually do. Not because I think I’m doing my body a favor by upping my intake of sodium chloride, but rather because so much of the food I’ve been served at the various social events I’ve attended during the holidays have been heavy […]
Microbiome
Modern Foods Drive the Development of Acne Vulgaris
Almost half a century ago, two small studies on diet and acne that would turn out to greatly influence the evolution of the field of dermatology, in particular the parts of the field that deal with acne vulgaris, a skin disorder that is today highly prevalent in westernized nations, were published (1, 2). Those studies, […]
15 Things You Should Avoid to Keep Your Microbiome From Turning Against You
The trillions of microorganisms that colonize your body shape your thoughts, behavior, and general health. Hence, it goes without saying that you would be wise to take your microbiome into account when you plan your life: what you eat, when you go to bed, how much you exercise, and so forth. It’s not just important […]
Are Non-Communicable Diseases Really Non-Communicable?
A long-standing practice in medicine has been to classify diseases as either non-communicable or communicable. Whereas conditions such as influenza, tuberculosis, and AIDS have long been known to be contagious, disorders and diseases such as colon cancer, acne vulgaris, and type-1 diabetes are generally considered to be non-communicable. Scientific research that has emerged over the […]
Does the Use of Whey Protein Supplements Negatively Affect Gut Health?
If you’re a regular reader of Darwinian-Medicine.com, you’ve undoubtedly picked up on the fact that I’m not a fan of protein supplements. In previous articles I’ve pointed out that protein supplements are evolutionarily novel food products with an abnormal nutrient composition and that the consumption of the most popular type of protein supplement on the […]
A Healthy Gut is a Prerequisite for a Healthy Brain
Much of what goes on inside your brain occurs as a consequence of what goes on inside your gut (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). If your gut is in bad shape, your brain will also be in bad shape. Conversely, if your gut is healthy and working well, then chances are your brain will also […]
10 Common Misconceptions About the Human Microbiome
The human microbiome has received a lot of attention lately, both in the scientific literature and in the mainstream press. Unfortunately though, not all of the information about gut health and human-associated microbes that is floating around is of high quality. The microbiome field is very young, and there is still a lot we don’t […]
A Simple Tip That Can Help You Diversify Your Microbiome
The human microbiome is shrinking (1, 2). It has been for quite a while (1, 2, 3, 4). Not only have we, via our modern diet and lifestyle behaviours, altered the configuration of our microbiotas, but we’ve also caused a loss of biodiversity from the human superorganism. These changes have contributed greatly to fueling the […]
The Fallacy of the Probiotic Concept
The world is a big and complex place. Numerous different substances and life forms make up the system that we call Earth. Our planet is so vast that we have a hard time wrapping our heads around it and understanding how all of its constituents hang together. In order to make things easier for ourselves, […]
How Friendly Bacteria Can Help Protect You Against STDs
A couple of days ago I was having a conversation with some friends of mine. For some reason I can’t fully remember, we got to talking about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Much of the discussion centered around the fact that STDs such as chlamydia are extremely common nowadays. Not just in developing nations, but also […]