Gut Bacteria Drive Autoimmunity

While autoimmune diseases have many unanswered questions, there is increasing evidence that gut bacteria is a driving factor in autoimmunity. A research group from Yale performed a study that has given us more evidence that gut health can lead to autoimmune diseases.

The Link Between Gut Bacteria and Autoimmune Disorders

The researchers discovered that when Enterococcus gallinarum was moved from one part of the gut to the liver or other tissues within mice, it triggered autoimmune responses.

In the study, they chose mice that were genetically susceptible to autoimmunity and found that as the E. gallinarum moved to other parts of the body, it causes inflammation. Also, they found that their bodies produced auto-antibodies. Both of these responses are signs of an autoimmune disorder.

They moved from testing mice to performing these same tests on cultures taken from human liver. These tests resulted in the same findings- gut bacteria played a key role in the development of autoimmune diseases.

Candida Overgrowth—A Root Cause or Symptom?

Candida. Most people associate this word with annoying, vaginal yeast infections, and while that’s true, there’s so much more to this common fungus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s estimated that approximately 46,000 cases of candida-related infections occur each year in America, but did you know candida is present in everyone—both male and female?

​What is candida?
Candida is a kind of fungus or yeast that we all have living throughout our gastro-intestinal tract and in other areas of the body. Usually, candida coexists with good bacteria in the body’s system and isn’t problematic. Trouble occurs when candida outnumbers the good bacteria and sends the system into chaos. Dysbiosis, also called dysbacteriosis, is the term for a microbial imbalance or maladaptation inside the body, and in this case, having a candida overgrowth.

Science News: How Your Gut Influences Your Brain, Mood, Behavior, and More

Did you ever consider there is more in your gut than your latest meal?

Gut flora, or microbiota, is the microbe population which is found in the digestive tract. The complex ecosystem that harbors these microbes is called the microbiome.

The microbiome is composed of numerous species of bacteria, fostering both good and bad. Good bacteria are vital for daily health by assisting in digestion, creating vitamins, and protecting the body’s system against infection.