Our first speaker Dr. Nural Cokcetin Faculty Research Engagement Manager at UTS Science shared insights from her research on the microbiome through medicinal honey and bee studies.

We use an artificial gut system to study various Australian honeys and explore whether honey acts as a prebiotic complex sugars and fibres that we can’t digest but which nourish the beneficial microbes in our gut she explained.

In a small study participants consumed a tablespoon of honey daily while researchers monitored changes in their gut microbiome.

We discovered that introducing honey significantly boosted beneficial bacteria which then produced compounds that inhibited the growth of potentially harmful microbes Nural shared.

Some of these compounds such as short-chain fatty acids offer additional health benefits.

They play a key role in preventing the onset and progression of various gut-related diseases including colon cancer one of the world’s leading cancer killers she added.

Nural emphasized that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome has far-reaching benefits for overall health as it plays a key role in many bodily functions and is closely linked to a range of diseases.

A well-balanced microbiome doesn’t just affect digestion or bowel health it can influence our weight risk of developing cancer susceptibility to heart disease and even mental health conditions she explained. So if your microbiome is in good shape there’s a good chance your overall health is too. And if something as simple and natural as honey can give it a boost then that’s a pretty sweet solution she added with a smile.

Next we heard from Dr. Mike Kendig, an ARC DECRA Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the UTS Faculty of Science who delved into the fascinating connection between the gut microbiome nutrition eating habits and brain function.

Mike explained that while we often share similar microbiomes with those we live with the composition of our gut microbiome is highly dynamic and can shift rapidly in response to dietary changes.

The microbiome can change very quickly when we adjust what we eat he noted. But it's not just about which microbes are present the foods we consume also influence how the gut communicates with the brain.

This two-way communication system known as the gut-brain axis is an emerging area of research. Our group along with many others around the world is actively investigating how gut microbes impact brain health behavior and even mood through this complex signaling network Mike added.

Source: https://reshub.uts.edu.au/whats-on/news/exploring-fascinating-gut-microbiome