Which microbes live in your gut? A microbiologist tries at-home test kits to see what they reveal about the microbiome From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Benjamin Wolfe, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University Aug 20, 2022 Aug 20, 2022 Updated Aug 22, 2023 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save You and the trillions of microbes in your gut can live in harmony. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty ImageskAm(96? J@F 962C 23@FE E96 8FE >:4C@3:@>6[ 5@6D :E 6G6C >2<6 J@F H@?56C H92E E:?J 4C62EFC6D 2C6 E66>:?8 :?D:56 J@FC @H? 3@5Jn pD 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6ClBEIA)54ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qm>:4C@3:@=@8:DEk^2m H9@ DEF5:6D E96 >:4C@3:@>6D @7 A=2?ED[ 2?:>2=D 2?5 A6@A=6[ x’G6 H2E4965 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE :? 8FE >:4C@36D 8C@H 2=@?8D:56 C6D62C49 @? E96:C A@DD:3=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]````^;89]`dfagQm5C2>2E:4k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^$`cfc\ccaaW`hXb_bde\cQm:?7=F6?46k^2m @? 9F>2? 962=E9] x? E96 A2DE D6G6C2= J62CD[ >:4C@3:@>6 E6DE:?8 E649?:BF6D FD65 3J C6D62C496CD =:<6 >6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_a`^`_^`b^H6==^=:G6^>:4C@3:@>6\E6DE]9E>=Qm?@H 2G2:=23=6 E@ 4@?DF>6CD 2E 9@>6k^2m] %96D6 A6CD@?2= 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 E6DE:?8 <:ED 4=2:> E@ E6== J@F H92E @C82?:D>D =:G6 :? J@FC 8FE 2?5 9@H E@ :>AC@G6 J@FC 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 FD:?8 E92E 52E2]k^Am People are also reading… Lexington School Board approves funds to acquire property through eminent domain The G.O.A.T. soon will occupy former Wonderbowl site Cozad man faces felony charge after incident at bar Overton Bandit seniors down Cozad Reds 12-4 Holiday Inn Express & Suites joins Lexington community with ribbon cutting Johnson Lake tests positive for E. Coli bacteria Event to support dislocated workers in Lexington to be held June 16 at Central Community College America's housing: unaffordable, unavailable. Many of us are giving up Locals earn spots on UNL's Deans' lists for spring semester Small town, big heart: Eustis celebrates German heritage at Wurst Tag Nebraska requests exemption from Medicaid work requirements in Dawson County Pony Express stops outside Cozad on way to California Road work will begin June 23 on N-47 and L-24D in Gothenburg Lexington City Council unanimously approves rezoning Woman’s daughter among 2 arrested after her suffocation death in Elkhorn area kAmx 3642>6 G6CJ :?E6C6DE65 :? 9@H E96D6 9@>6 E6DE <:ED H@C<[ H92E <:?5 @7 :?7@C>2E:@? E96J AC@G:56 2?5 H96E96C E96J 42? C62==J 96=A J@F 492?86 J@FC 8FE >:4C@3:@>6] $@ x @C56C65 2 76H <:ED 7C@> ':@>6[ q:@9> 2?5 u=@Cé[ EC:65 E96> @FE 2?5 D:7E65 E9C@F89 >J @H? >:4C@3:@>6 52E2] w6C6 :D H92E x =62C?65]k^Am Your gut microbiome can be a partner in your health – if you have the right bacteria. k9amw@H 5@ 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 <:ED H@C<nk^9amkAmp== 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 <:ED C6BF:C6 J@F E@ 42C67F==J 4@==64E 7C6D9 7642= >2E6C:2=] *@F AFE :E :? E96 G2C:@FD EF36D AC@G:565 :? E96 <:E 2?5 >2:= E96 D2>A=6D 324< E@ E96 4@>A2?J] $6G6C2= H66<D =2E6C[ J@F’== C646:G6 2 C6A@CE 56D4C:3:?8 E96 EJA6D @7 >:4C@36D =:G:?8 :? J@FC 8FE 2?5 DF886DE:@?D @? 9@H E@ 492?86 J@FC 5:6E @C 24E:G:E:6D E@ A@E6?E:2==J 2=E6C J@FC 8FE >:4C@3:@>6]k^Am kAm(92E 4@?DF>6CD 5@?’E 6I24E=J <?@H :D 9@H 4@>A2?:6D 86?6C2E6 E96 >:4C@3:2= AC@7:=6 52E2 7C@> J@FC 7642= D2>A=6] p EJA:42= 2AAC@249 x 2?5 @E96C >:4C@3:@>6 C6D62C496CD FD6 :D E@ 6IEC24E 2?5 564@56 E96 >:4C@3:2= 86?6E:4 >2E6C:2= 7C@> 2 D2>A=6] (6 FD6 E92E 86?6E:4 >2E6C:2= E@ :56?E:7J H92E DA64:6D @7 >:4C@36D 2C6 AC6D6?E] %96 492==6?86 :D E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]489]a_`g]_h]_`fQmE9:D AC@46DD 42? 36 5@?6 :? >2?J 5:776C6?E H2JDk^2m[ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 ?@ H:56=J 28C665\FA@? DE2?52C5D 7@C H92E :D E96 36DE >6E9@5]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cec``a^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_d`g\`d\a3BE5>];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHl`___U2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cec``a^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_d`g\`d\a3BE5>];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj2=ElQ H:5E9lQ`__TQ ^mk^2mk6>ms:776C6?E 9@>6 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 E6DE <:ED 42? 8:G6 4@?7=:4E:?8 C6DF=ED] q6?;2>:? (@=76[ k2 4=2DDlQ=:46?D6Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?4\?5^c]_^Qmrr q*\}r\}sk^2mk^6>mk^Am kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ >:4C@3:@>6 2?2=JD6D 42? 36 5@?6 @? EH@ EJA6D @7 86?6E:4 >2E6C:2=[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86?@>6]8@G^86?6E:4D\8=@DD2CJ^#}p\#:3@?F4=6:4\p4:5Qm#}pk^2m @C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86?@>6]8@G^23@FE\86?@>:4D^724E\D966ED^s6@IJC:3@?F4=6:4\p4:5\u24E\$966EQms}pk^2m] x7 E96 AC@7:=6 :D 32D65 @? s}p[ :E 42? 8:G6 J@F 2 D?2AD9@E @?=J @7 H92E EJA6D @7 >:4C@36D 2C6 AC6D6?E[ ?@E H92E >:4C@3:2= 86?6D 2C6 24E:G6 @C H92E 24E:G:E:6D E96J 2C6 5@:?8 :? J@FC 3@5J] ~? E96 @E96C 92?5[ :7 E96 AC@7:=6 :D 32D65 @? #}p[ :E 42? E6== J@F ?@E @?=J H92E >:4C@36D 2C6 AC6D6?E[ 3FE 2=D@ H96E96C E96J’C6 A=2J:?8 2 C@=6 :? J@FC 5:86DE:@? @C AC@5F4:?8 >6E23@=:E6D E92E 42? C65F46 8FE :?7=2>>2E:@?[ 2>@?8 @E96C 7F?4E:@?D] ':@>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G:@>6]4@>^3=@8^H9J\C?2\2?5\?@E\5?2\9@H\G:@>6\2DD6DD6D\>:4C@3:2=\24E:G:EJQm86?6C2E6D :ED AC@7:=6Dk^2m 3J =@@<:?8 2E #}p[ H9:=6 E96 @E96C 4@>A2?:6D FD6 s}p]k^Am kAm~E96C 52E2 2?2=JD:D 49@:46D[ DF49 2D 9@H 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 86?6E:4 D6BF6?46D 2C6 D@CE65 @C H9:49 52E232D6D 2C6 FD65 E@ :56?E:7J E96 >:4C@36D[ 42? 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`cef\_aa\ag_bc\KQm27764E E96 =6G6= @7 56E2:= 2?5 FE:=:EJk^2m @7 E96 7:?2= 52E2] |:4C@3:@>6 D4:6?E:DED 2C6 FDF2==J G6CJ 42C67F= E@ A@:?E @FE E96D6 ?F2?46D H96? :?E6CAC6E:?8 E96:C @H? 52E2 :? D4:6?E:7:4 A2A6CD[ 3FE E96D6 56E2:=D 2C6 ?@E 4=62C=J AC6D6?E65 :? 9@>6 >:4C@3:@>6 <:ED]k^Amk9am(92E x =62C?65 23@FE >J 8FE >:4C@3:@>6k^9amkAm%9@F89 x FD65 E96 D2>6 7642= D2>A=6 7@C 6249 <:E[ >:I65 H6== E@ 6?DFC6 F?:7@C>:EJ[ x H2D DFCAC:D65 E92E 6249 @7 E96 E9C66 AC@5F4ED x EC:65 82G6 >6 5:776C6?E :>AC6DD:@?D @7 >J 8FE >:4C@3:@>6]k^Am kAmt249 4@>A2?J 8:G6D 2? @G6C2== “D4@C6” @? 9@H J@FC >:4C@3:@>6 4@>A2C6D H:E9 H92E E96J 4@?D:56C E@ 36 “8@@5” @C “962=E9J]” |J D4@C6D C2?865 7C@> bhT W?@E 8C62EX E@ faT W8@@5X] x?E6C6DE:?8=J[ ':@>6[ H9:49 :?76CD >:4C@3:2= 24E:G:EJ 3J FD:?8 #}p[ 82G6 E96 =@H6DE D4@C6] xE ?@E65 E92E 46CE2:? >:4C@3:2= 24E:G:E:6D 92AA6?:?8 :? >J 8FE[ DF49 2D >6E92?6 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 5:86DE:@? 677:4:6?4J[ H6C6 ?@E @AE:>2=]k^AmkAmx H2D 2=D@ DFCAC:D65 3J E96 G2C:2E:@? :? E@E2= >:4C@3:2= 5:G6CD:EJ 6249 4@>A2?J C6A@CE65] (9:=6 E96C6 H2D 86?6C2= 28C66>6?E :? E96 @G6C2== 8C@FAD @7 >:4C@36D AC6D6?E 2E E96 A9J=F> =6G6=[ 2 >@C6 86?6C2= 3:@=@8:42= 8C@FA:?8[ E96C6 H2D 2 9F86 C2?86 @7 G2C:2E:@? 2E E96 DA64:6D =6G6=[ E96 >@DE DA64:7:4 8C@FA:?8] ~?6 4@>A2?J C6A@CE65 daf DA64:6D @7 >:4C@36D :? >J >:4C@3:@>6[ H9:=6 2?@E96C C6A@CE65 b`a] ~?6 C6A@CE65 @?=J af]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cefab_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_e_e\`c\>EgEGA];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHl`___U2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cefab_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_e_e\`c\>EgEGA];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj2=ElQ H:5E9lQ`__TQ ^mk^2mk6>m~C82?:D>D =:<6 >:4C@36D 42? 36 4=2DD:7:65 :?E@ 8C@FAD @7 C6=2E65?6DD[ 7C@> 9:89=J DA64:7:4 WDA64:6DX E@ G6CJ 86?6C2= W<:?85@>X] k2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^:==FDEC2E:@?^4=2DD:7:42E:@?\DJDE6>\G64E@C\:==FDEC2E:@?\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:==FDEC2E:@?^``gd````cbQm'64E@C|:?6^:$E@4< G:2 v6EEJ x>286D !=FDk^2mk^6>mk^Am kAm!6C92AD E96 >@DE DFCAC:D:?8 >@DE DFCAC:D:?8 7:?5:?8 H2D E92E >J 8FE >2J 92C3@C 2 >:4C@36 E92E 4@F=5 WE96C6 2C6 >2?J 42G62ED 96C6PX A@D6 2 AC@3=6> 7@C >6 :? E96 7FEFC6 :7 x 6IA6C:6?46 46CE2:? >65:42= D:EF2E:@?D] tG6? E9@F89 2== 4@>A2?:6D 6IA=:4:E=J =@@<65 7@C E9:D >:4C@36 :? >J 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 D2>A=6[ @?=J EH@ 24EF2==J 7@F?5 :E] (9:=6 x H@?’E ?2>6 E96 6I24E >:4C@36 E@ AC@E64E >J 962=E9 AC:G24J[ x 2> ?@E E@@ H@CC:65 23@FE E9:D C6DF=E 3642FD6 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ DF49 2D 7F== 86?@>6 D6BF6?4:?8 @7 E96 >:4C@36[ :D ?66565 E@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 :7 E9:D :D 24EF2==J 2 4@?46C?:?8 DEC2:? @7 E9:D >:4C@36] qFE E9:D 7:?5:?8 5@6D A@:?E E@ D@>6 DFCAC:D:?8 G2C:2E:@? :? C6DF=ED 24C@DD 5:776C6?E E6DE:?8 <:ED]k^Am k9amr2? E9:D 52E2 C62==J :>AC@G6 J@FC 8FE >:4C@3:@>6nk^9amkAm|2?J >:4C@3:@>6 D4:6?E:DED =:<6 >6 H@F=5 AC@323=J 2C8F6 E92E E96 52E2 E96D6 <:ED AC@G:56 2C6 =:>:E65 :? E6C>D @7 8:G:?8 J@F E96 A@H6C E@ 2=E6C J@FC 962=E9] %9:D :D A2CE=J 3642FD6 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 D4:6?46 :D DE:== 2 ?6H 7:6=5 H:E9 >2?J F?2?DH6C65 BF6DE:@?D]k^AmkAm~?6 492==6?86 :D E92E 5:776C6?E A6@A=6 42? 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^?2EFC6``abcQm5:776C6?E AC@A@CE:@?D @7 >:4C@36Dk^2m AC6D6?E :? E96:C 8FE] %9:D G2C:2E:@? 92D >256 :E 5:77:4F=E 7@C D4:6?E:DED 2?5 962=E9 AC@76DD:@?2=D E@ 28C66 @? H92E EJA6 @7 >:4C@3:2= 4@>>F?:EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_db^;]82DEC@]a_a_]_h]_dfQm>2<6D 2 8FE “962=E9Jk^2m]” $@>6 DA64:7:4 DA64:6D[ DF49 2D E96 324E6C:F> k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^45:77^H92E\:D]9E>=Qmr] 5:77k^2mk^6>m[ 2?5 D@>6 3C@25 8C@FAD[ =:<6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]E:3E649]a_`d]_e]_``Qm!C@E6@324E6C:2k^2m[ 2C6 FDF2==J 4@?D:56C65 F?56D:C23=6 :? 9:89 2>@F?ED] qFE E96C6 :D ?@ 4=62C 4@?D6?DFD @? H9J @?6 >:4C@3:@>6 >:89E 36 36EE6C E92? 2?@E96C]k^Am kAmtG6? :7 J@F 5:5 ECJ E@ :>AC@G6 J@FC 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 32D65 @? H92E J@FC 8FE E6DE E@=5 J@F[ E96 C6DF=ED >:89E ?@E EFC? @FE 2D J@F 9@A65] !C@3:@E:4D @C 5:6E 492?86D 42? 2=E6C E96 5:G6CD:EJ @7 J@FC 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 2?5 9@H :E 7F?4E:@?D[ 3FE DEF5:6D @7E6? 7:?5 E92E 6249 A6CD@? 42? 92G6 5:776C6?E C6DA@?D6D E@ E96D6 :?E6CG6?E:@?D[ A@DD:3=J 3642FD6 @7 E96:C @H? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]46==]a_`g]_g]_c`QmF?:BF6 >:4C@3:@>6 4@>A@D:E:@?k^2m] %96 A6CD@?2=:K65 64@=@8J @7 8FE >:4C@3:2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 4@>3:?65 H:E9 86?6E:4D[ 5:6E 2?5 @E96C 724E@CD[ >2<6D :E 492==6?8:?8 E@ AC6D4C:36 F?:G6CD2= D@=FE:@?D]k^Am kAm$@ H9J 3@E96C 86EE:?8 2 8FE >:4C@3:@>6 E6DEn u@C >6[ :E H2D :==F>:?2E:?8 E@ =62C? H92E >:4C@36D x 42CCJ 2C@F?5 H:E9 >6 6249 52J] (96? x 62E >J =F?49[ 8@ 7@C 2 CF? @C 86E DEC6DD65 @FE[ E96 >:4C@36D :? >J 8FE C6DA@?5 E@ 492?86D :? >J 3@5J] #6D62C496CD >2J ?@E 4@>A=6E6=J F?56CDE2?5 H92E E9@D6 492?86D >62? 2?5 9@H E@ >2?286 @FC >:4C@3:2= A2CE?6CD[ 3FE 86EE:?8 E@ <?@H H9@ E96J 2C6 :D 2 8C62E 7:CDE DE6A]k^Am kAm000k^AmkAmk6>mq6?;2>:? (@=76 C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= $4:6?46 u@F?52E:@? 2?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6]k^6>mk^AmkAmk6>m000k^6>mk^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Aug 22, 2023 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated May 30, 2023 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Aug 22, 2023 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 167 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Locations Lincoln Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story 10 nutrition myths debunked A registered dietitian nutritionist helps debunk 10 myths so you can feel more confident regarding your nutrition.
10 nutrition myths debunked A registered dietitian nutritionist helps debunk 10 myths so you can feel more confident regarding your nutrition.
You and the trillions of microbes in your gut can live in harmony. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images
