Stroke and heart disease continue to be serious public health problems.
New research conducted by Dr. Brunch at the University of Colorado has something exciting to say about those conditions. This study demonstrated that when you change of microbiome of older mice, you reduce the production of a toxic compound (TMAO) in their gut. TMAO is associated with higher rates of heart disease and stroke.
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a very toxic compound. By the time you’re sixty years old, you’ve got a 70% chance of having TMAO in your body. By the time you’re in your 80s, only about 10-15% of people are free of this toxin. The change in TMAO levels comes along as the gut ages, and the composition of the GI flora starts to shift. In particular, there is a loss of beneficial bacteria. As TMAO levels increase, so does your risk of stroke and heart disease.
The lead investigator in this study worked with a group of young mice and a group of older mice. She wiped out their gut flora using a broad-spectrum antibiotic. As a result of wiping out their GI bacteria, the older mice no longer produced the same amount of toxic compounds in their gut. Their circulatory and cardiac healthy improved so much, it was almost equivalent to that seen in young mice.
Further readings:
- How Your Gut Flora Can Improve Your Health
- Diet And Cholesterol: What You Need To Know
- The Connection Between Skin Health And Gut Health
- Improving Your Gut Health With CanXida Products
The researchers went on to document that the gut bacteria of the older mice had changed after it was wiped out by the antibiotics. Now, I’m not suggesting for one minute that antibiotics are the fountain of youth. In fact, in my opinion, antibiotics do more damage than good.
But the take-home point from this study is that altering your gut bacteria can alter your health. Even heart health is connected to the gut.
If you want to combat the changes that occur to the gut flora with age, include things n your diet that can improve your gut health. Foods like kefir, yogurt, and kombucha can all be helpful.
So there you have it. To keep your gut in great shape as you get older, consider cultured and fermented foods, keep active, and you may well have a chance of staving off some of the biggest killers of older people – circulatory problems, heart disease, and stroke.
Sources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31116376/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.14759
