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☆ Our toothbrushes are home to hundreds of new viruses. They could be the future of biotech.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A new study found hundreds of unique viruses called bacteriophage on toothbrushes and shower heads. A recent study found hundreds of viruses on samples from toothbrushes and shower heads, including many that have never been seen before, let alone examined. These are not viruses that are going to infect you, these are viruses that are potentially cool," Hartmann said. In the future, phage might be a rich source of biotech innovations like phage therapy, in the same way pharmaceuticals have developed medicines from plants or animals. Advertisement"There are a lot of things waiting to be discovered just under our noses or on our toothbrushes," Hartmann said.

Persons: —, Erica Hartmann, it's, Hartmann, Phages, Wahrman Organizations: Service, Northwestern University, Business, William Paterson University of New Locations: William Paterson University of New Jersey, Microbiomes

☆ Your showerhead and toothbrush are teeming with viruses. But don’t panic – these microbes could save lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

These viruses, however, are not the kind that will give you the common cold or flu (or worse). It’s amazing how much untapped biodiversity is all around us.”The study identified more than 600 viruses found in the samples taken from showerheads and toothbrushes. And for every bacterium, there’s potentially tens or hundreds or even thousands of viruses that infect it,” Hartmann said, noting that viruses mutate very quickly, too. She hypothesized that a bacterium in your mouth could transfer to your toothbrush, taking its viruses with it – and these could keep evolving on the toothbrush. “Microbes are everywhere all the time … We wouldn’t be able to digest our food or fend off infection if we didn’t have our microbes,” Hartmann said.

Persons: Erica Hartmann, we’ve, ” Hartmann, Bacteriophages, “ There’s, ”, Joe Parker, wasn’t, Hartmann, Parker, toothbrushes, There’s, that’s Organizations: CNN, Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering, Getty, World Health Organization, Innovation Locations: showerheads, Microbiomes, United States, ”

☆ Mediterranean diet: Author Suzy Karadsheh shares 7 simple secrets
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Karla Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“I started receiving emails from folks whose doctors had prescribed the Mediterranean diet and were seeking approachable recipes,” Karadsheh said. Instead of cutting anything out, consider focusing on these seven commandments of the Mediterranean lifestyle, Karadsheh recommends. Use mostly extra-virgin olive oilIncorporating olive oil as a primary source of fat is the No. 1 thing that distinguishes the Mediterranean diet from other eating patterns, according to Karadsheh. A cake with olive oil is so tender since olive oil remains liquid at room temp.

Persons: Suzy Karadsheh’s, ” Karadsheh, “, Karadsheh, ”, Suzy Karadsheh's, Caitlin Bensel, I’m, pita, “ doesn’t, Karla Walsh Organizations: CNN Locations: Port Said, Egypt, United States, Atlanta, Dijon, U.S, Des Moines , Iowa

☆ Research shows the ages our metabolism undergoes massive rapid changes
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Linda Carroll | Linda Carroll Is A Regular Health Contributor To Nbc News. She Is Coauthor Of | The Concussion Crisis | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

For many people, reaching their mid-40s may bring unpleasant signs the body isn’t working as well as it once did. Previous research showed that resting energy use, or metabolic rate, didn’t change from ages 20 to 60. The changes in metabolism affect how the body reacts to alcohol or caffeine, although the health consequences aren’t yet clear. For example, the changes in alcohol metabolism might be because people are drinking more in their mid-40s, Snyder said. “But it will take time to sort out what individual changes mean and how we can tailor medications to those changes.

Persons: ”, Michael Snyder, It’s, Snyder, Josef Coresh, Coresh, Lori Zeltser, ” Zeltser Organizations: Stanford, Center for Genomics, Medicine, Stanford Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Locations: midlife

☆ I tried eating 30 plants in a week like gut health experts recommend. It was way easier than I expected.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewAs a health journalist, I write about the buzzy topic of gut health a lot. So when I noticed lots of gut experts saying they aim to eat 30 plants a week, I knew I had to give it a try. It found people who ate 30 plants a week had more diverse gut microbiomes than people who ate 10 or fewer. Gut health researchers believe that eating different types of fiber results in a more diverse and, therefore, healthier microbiome. AdvertisementHaving said all that, going into my weeklong experiment, 30 plants sounded like a lot.

Persons: —, I've, Schewitz, Kim Schewitz Organizations: Service, Business, pesto

☆ A gastroenterologist has 3 tips to eat more fiber without getting bloating or constipation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCutting down on ultra-processed foods and eating more fiber is good for gut health. Done wrong, an infusion of fiber can lead to bloating, gas, abdominal pain, cramping, and changes in bowel habits like constipation or diarrhea. Anytime we change our diet, our gut microbes are forced to adapt, he said. Stay hydratedBeing well-hydrated improves our ability to process and digest fiber, Bulsiewicz said. Drinking water when you eat fiber also helps prevent gas and bloating, according to UMass Chan Medical School.

Persons: —, It's, Dr, Will Bulsiewicz, shouldn't, Bulsiewicz, Zoe Organizations: Service, Business, Mayo Clinic, UMass Chan Medical

☆ A woman couldn't understand why she wasn't losing weight after trying diets, exercise, and medication. A test revealed she was missing crucial gut microbes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kimmie Gilbert couldn't seem to lose weight despite trying diets, exercise, and medication. Research suggests that gut microbiome composition might play a role in a person's weight. AdvertisementKimmie Gilbert has one pressing question: "What in the world are y'all eating that I'm not eating that causes y'all to lose weight and not me?" In 2019, health tech had a global market value of approximately $350 billion, according to McKinsey. A microbe called Prevotella, which is associated with weight loss, wasn't found at all in her gut.

Persons: Kimmie Gilbert couldn't, Gilbert, —, Kimmie Gilbert, y'all, Eran Segal, Annie Gupta, Goodman, Rob Knight, Jack Gilbert, wasn't, Gupta, Prevotella, Segal Organizations: Service, Netflix, McKinsey, BMI, Weizmann Institute of Science, UCLA, Luskin, UC San Diego Locations: New Orleans

☆ A doctor says looking after your gut will take care of your brain and immune system, too. Here are 3 things he does himself, including 'gut gardening.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewGrowing research on the trillions of microbes that make up what's known as our gut microbiome is changing the way we think about our bodies. The brain, immune system, and gut appear to be interconnected — suggesting taking care of our gut health is key to both physical and mental health. For instance, the gut microbiome helps to "train" our immune system to distinguish friend from foe to prevent chronic inflammation, Lyman told Business Insider. Related storiesLyman shared three things he does to cultivate a healthy gut microbiome for his mind and body with BI. Gut gardeningLyman finds it helpful to think of his gut microbiome as a garden that needs tending to.

Persons: —, Monty Lyman, Lyman, we've, Kinga Krzeminska, I've Organizations: Service, University of Oxford, Business, Stanford University

☆ This $119 houseplant is bioengineered to remove harmful air pollution in your home.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Biotech company Neoplants just released the first houseplant grown to reduce indoor air pollution. Neo P1 can remove 30 times more VOC's, harmful indoor pollutants, than a typical houseplant. This week, the France-based biotech company Neoplants released the first houseplant bioengineered to remove harmful chemicals from indoor air. AdvertisementUnpacking the Neo P1 systemThe Neo P1 system comes with a marble queen pothos potted in a specially designed "shell," and a six-month supply of power drops. AdvertisementStriving for sustainabilityEvery part of the Neo P1 air purifying system is manufactured in the US.

Persons: —, you'd, Glenn Morrison, Patrick Torbey, Lionel Mora weren't, Mora, Torbey, Morrison, Neoplants, Jennifer Brophy, " Mora, it's, we'll Organizations: Biotech, Neoplants, Service, American Lung Association, University of North, Business, Stanford University, MIT Tech Locations: France, University of North Carolina, Torbey, VOCs, Neoplants, Paris

☆ Unusual find in Bronze Age teeth shows consequences of a shift in the human diet
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The rare find could help scientists further understand how changes in the human diet have led to the prevalence of cavities today. Uncovered during two excavations from 1993 and 1996, the teeth were among several human teeth and other remains found within a limestone cave in County Limerick in Ireland. One tooth had a surprising abundance of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), an oral bacteria that causes cavities. Researchers also believe the bacteria is not as commonly found within ancient teeth because the human diet included less refined sugar and fewer processed foods than are consumed today, Cassidy said. … ancient teeth can help us understand how the human oral microbiota (range of microorganisms) has evolved over time and the impact of these changes on human health in the past and today,” Humphrey said in an email.

Persons: Lara Cassidy, Cassidy, mutans, —, “, would’ve, Tannerella, mutans “, Louise Humphrey, ” Humphrey Organizations: CNN, Trinity College Dublin Locations: County Limerick, Ireland, France, London

☆ A gastro dietitian eats 30 plants a week for a healthy gut microbiome. Here's what she has for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Research suggests that gut health is central to overall health. A prominent study found that eating 30 plants a week leads to a more diverse gut microbiome. “Looking after your gut health really lowers your risk of things like colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, and it can look after your mental health,” Gabrielle Morse, a gut health specialist and registered dietitian at The Gut Health Clinic , told Business Insider. “There's a gut-liver axis, so our gut health looks after our liver. AdvertisementMorse also carries a small Tupperware of mixed seeds with her so she can sprinkle some of those on top.

Persons: Dietitian Gabrielle Morse, —, ” Gabrielle Morse, ”, Morse, ” Morse, “, She’ll, she’s Organizations: Service, Health, Business Locations: Brazil

☆ A 34-year-old who worked out regularly and ate healthily noticed blood in his poop. He had stage 3 colon cancer.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Two days after the colonoscopy, he had just checked into his hotel on a work trip when the doctor called to tell him he had colon cancer . Josh HertingHerting became one of the rising number of young Americans diagnosed with early-onset colon cancer. Herting's dad was diagnosed with stage one colon cancer in his early 50s, but genetic testing showed that this was unrelated to his own diagnosis. He's sharing his story to help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of colon cancer and to encourage people to be proactive if they notice anything. "As much as you think a colonoscopy isn't fun, colon cancer is a million times worse," he said.

Persons: —, Josh Herting, Herting, doesn't, Martin Luther King Day, Josh Herting Herting, , Kimmie Ng, I'm, you've Organizations: Service, Business, American Cancer, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, NBC Locations: Massachusetts, American, Boston

☆ Exclusive: Astarte Medical is shutting down. Here's why the infant tech startup decided to close its doors.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Tracy Warren cofounded Astarte Medical in 2016 to improve care for premature babies. Astarte, which sells software to standardize nutrition for babies in intensive care units, had raised $14 million in venture funding to date and landed contracts with four hospitals. Last year, the startup wasn't able to land as many new contracts as it hoped, with hospitals struggling to manage their slim margins. But Astarte ultimately decided not to make the promise to build AI into its tech for clinical decision-making. The startup is hoping to find a buyer by the end of the first quarter of the year.

Persons: Tracy Warren, Warren, Astarte, Tammi Jantzen, Katherine Gregory, Gregory, Warren didn't, Nenov, Jantzen, —, we've, we're, Medical's Organizations: Business, Brigham, Women's, Viking Global, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Children's, Gillette Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Arkansas Children's Hospital Locations: Virginia, Minnesota, Arkansas

☆ More young people are dying of colorectal cancer. Three lifestyle factors could be partly to blame, scientists say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Colorectal cancer deaths among younger people in Europe are forecast to rise by around a third in 2024.to rise by around a third in 2024. Obesity, low levels of physical activity, and alcohol might be partly to blame, scientists say. Cancer researchers from the University of Milan, Italy, predicted that colorectal cancer deaths among people aged 25 to 49 will rise significantly in the EU and the UK this year compared to 2018. AdvertisementAlthough they estimated that deaths from colorectal cancer will fall overall in 2024, this is the first year they have predicted a rise in colorectal cancer deaths among younger people. More people drinking alcohol, which has been linked to early-onset colorectal cancer, and less physical activity could also be factors, the study said.

Persons: —, Christina Annunziata, Chadwick Boseman's, Annunziata, Carlo La Vecchia, La Vecchia, Kimmie Ng Organizations: EU, Service, Cancer, University of Milan, American Cancer Society, Oncology, World Health Organization, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, NBC Locations: Europe, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, France, Boston

☆ Colorectal cancer is killing more younger people than ever. 3 people under 50 diagnosed with it shared their first symptoms.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

People under 50 in the US are dying from colorectal cancer at an increasing rate. AdvertisementMore people under the age of 50 are dying of colorectal cancer than ever before, according to the American Cancer Association. The disease is sometimes called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where it starts. When colorectal cancer is caught early, before it has spread, the chance a person will live for another five years is about 90%. AdvertisementShe now visits her gastroenterologist regularly, eats healthy, exercises, and raises awareness of the signs of colorectal cancer.

Persons: —, Kimmie Ng, you've, JJ Singleton, Singleton, Lynch, Tom McKenna, Paula Chambers Raney, Doctors, gastroenterologist, Kim Schewitz, kschewitz@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, American Cancer Association, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, NBC Locations: Boston

☆ These Amphibians Have a Taste for Their Mom’s Skin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sofia Quaglia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When born, baby caecilians — legless amphibians that look like a mash-up of a snake and a worm — use their tiny hook-shaped teeth to scrape off their mother’s skin and feast. The flakes are dead but extra fatty and nutrient-rich, and within three months the infant squirmers have grown into independent teenagers. According to a study published in May, skin-feeding allows mothers to pass on their unique microbiomes and possibly inoculate their offspring’s immune systems — the first known instance of microbiome transmission among amphibians. “It’s a remarkably weird thing,” said David Blackburn, the curator of herpetology at the Florida Museum and author of the study. Very few amphibians are known to care for their children — most frog and salamander species tend to lay their eggs and leave once they hatch — but caecilians have evolved sophisticated parenting strategies.

Persons: ”, David Blackburn Organizations: Florida Museum

☆ Constipation linked with cognitive decline, research finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Chronic constipation has been linked with inflammation and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, but there have been many unanswered questions about the relationship between digestive health and long-term cognitive function, according to a news release. Cognitive function refers to a person’s mental capacity for learning, thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, remembering and paying attention. To find clues to these queries, the authors assessed more than 112,000 adults who had participated in the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The authors of the latest research collected data on participants’ bowel movement frequency from 2012 to 2013, participants’ self-assessments of cognitive function between 2014 and 2017, and details on some participants’ objectively measured cognitive function between 2014 and 2018. But bowel movement frequency and subjective cognitive function were also linked with the participants’ gut microbiomes, the authors found.

Persons: ”, Chaoran Ma, pooped, Maria C, Carrillo, wasn’t, “, ” Ma, Butyrates, Ruminococcus, ” Carrillo Organizations: CNN, Alzheimer’s Association International, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Nurses, Health, Alzheimer’s Association, Cleveland Clinic, Food and Drug Administration Locations: Amsterdam, “, North America

☆ Prehistoric humans were surprisingly creative cooks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Stone Age cooks were surprisingly sophisticated, combining an array of ingredients and using different techniques to prepare and flavor their meals, analysis of some the earliest charred food remains has suggested. (From left) Breadlike food was found in Franchthi Cave in Greece; pulse-rich food with wild peas was uncovered in Shanidar Cave in northern Iraq. The charred food remains from Franchthi Cave dated from 12,000 years ago, when it was also occupied by hunter-gatherer Homo sapiens. Much research on prehistoric diets has focused on whether early humans were predominantly meat eaters, but Kabukcu said it was clear they weren’t just chomping on woolly mammoth steaks. A Neanderthal hearth was unearthed at Shanidar Cave, where charred plant remains were also found.

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