MyPsomagen

Your Gut Microbiome Can Affect Cancer Treatments. According to National Cancer Institute, approximately  38.4% of people  will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Because cancer affects a sizeable population of Americans, s cientists are constantly discovering new ways to make cancer treatments more effective and to increase patients’ quality of life. One of the most promising areas of research has to do with the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome. Research indicates that the bacteria in your gut can affect your response to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other therapeutic agents for cancer. These interactions can be positive (gut bacteria enhancing the effectiveness of cancer treatment) or negative (resulting in treatment challenges), depending on your microbiome and the type of cancer. These discoveries could have a major impact on how Oncologists treat cancer in the future. Healthy gut bacteria can make immunotherapy more effective. In February 2018, the  National

What is the difference between Prebiotics and Probiotics? As we know, your gut biome is a micro-ecosystem within your gut composed of many microscopic organisms, mainly bacteria. To keep this ecosystem healthy, a well-balanced diet is recommended to nourish the near 1,000 diverse species of bacteria in your gut. So what healthy foods can we feed our gut microbes to keep them happy and healthy? Prebiotics and Probiotics. Prebiotics are natural plant fibers that stimulate the development of beneficial bacteria in our gut. More specifically, complex carbohydrates like resistant starches. Resistant starch is a prebiotic that stimulates the growth of good bacteria like Bifidobacterium . Resistant starch is fermented by intestinal bacteria which then produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that also contribute to your gut health. For example, Butyrate is a SCFA that is essential for intestinal function and is a major energy source for gut lining cells with anti-inflammatory properties.  The