Health
Fermented Foods Might Be Key To Better Health
In the past one decade fermented foods seem to have exploded into the public consciousness, but it’s rare for those obsessed with it to explain what a fermented food actually is, how it’s produced, and what the possible health benefits of eating them are.
Fermentation is actually an ancient process of preserving foods, but it’s come to prominence now because fermented foods are said to be game-changers for the gut because they’re rich in probiotics.
Fermented foods like Yoghurt, and Cheese, Sauerkraut into your diet, you’ve come to the right place. Nutritionists are thinking about implementing them into your diet, you’ve come to the right place.
What is food fermentation? Where yeast and bacteria convert carbs into alcohol or acids. These act as a natural preservative. Fermented foods and drinks are those which have been through the natural process of fermentation, where yeast and bacteria convert carbs into alcohol or acids. These act as a natural preservative.
The truth is fermentation process produces bacteria that are believed to be good for our health and may also have a higher content of certain vitamins. Depending on the type of food or drink being fermented, microbes will use the starches or sugars in those foods as their own fuel source. Some fermented foods include yoghurt, cheese, (water and milk), sauerkraut. There you have it, fact fans.
Why are fermented foods good for your health? Fermented foods have been used for thousands of years for their health promoting properties. More recently the attention has been focused on their potential to support gut health and associated symptoms or conditions. The research is still very sparse in this area but anecdotally there seems to be many people who have found benefits to introducing some fermented foods into their diet.
Unfortunately, exercise caution while eating fermented foods if you have Irritating Bowel Syndrome( IBS)?
This depends on the person. Some IBS sufferers may find that fermented foods make their symptoms worse rather than better. I would advise going slowly if you are new to them, or work with nutritionist who can guide you through what might be your personal drivers and triggers for your IBS symptoms and offer advice.
If you are suffering with IBS, stress management is key, so try yoga, meditation or simple breathing exercises. Gentle movement like walking can also help some people. Eve also advises taking time over meals and chewing your food properly.
What’s the best way for someone who is new to fermented foods to implement them into their diet? The short answer is slowly and in small amounts. With fermented dairy, aim to buy yoghurts that contain ‘live’ cultures and opt for full fat – the current thinking is that the fat helps the bacteria better survive the transit to the lower part of the gut where most of our microbes reside. Plus, in my personal opinion, they taste better!
With the fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, it is important to get the ones that say ‘unpasteurised’ or ‘raw’ so that the food has not been heat treated, advises Eve. This would destroy the bacteria. Eve also recommends making a note of how your gut feels after trying a new food for the first few times, so you can find out what works for you.
Are there any other conditions for which fermented foods can help. The health of the gut, anything that the gut influences could be positively effected by eating them. This could include supporting the immune system and helping managing inflammation.
Although we can’t say for sure yet whether or not fermented foods can directly support these issues. Though research say whether or not fermented foods can help with other health conditions. That said, since fermented foods may have some benefits to the health of the gut, anything that the gut influences could be positively effected by eating them. This could include supporting the immune system and helping managing inflammation. Although we can’t say for sure yet whether or not fermented foods can directly support these issues.
Adapted from the cosmopolitan
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.