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Your body hosts trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, collectively known as the microbiome. While some bacteria are linked to disease, many play essential roles in supporting your immune system, heart health, weight management, and overall well-being. This article delves into the significance of the gut microbiome and its impact on health.
Interestingly, bacterial cells outnumber human cells in the body, with approximately 40 trillion bacterial cells compared to 30 trillion human cells. With up to 1,000 species of bacteria present in the gut, each plays a distinct role. While most bacteria contribute positively to health, some can be harmful. Together, these microbes weigh around 1–2 kilograms, functioning almost like an additional organ essential for overall well-being.
The relationship between humans and microbes has evolved over millions of years, with the gut microbiome playing a crucial role from birth. Initial exposure to microbes occurs during birth, and some evidence suggests that exposure begins in the womb. As the microbiome diversifies, it starts influencing key bodily functions:
Digestion of breast milk: Beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria help break down essential sugars in breast milk, supporting infant growth.
Fiber digestion: Some bacteria process fiber into short-chain fatty acids, which contribute to gut health and reduce risks of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Immune system regulation: The gut microbiome interacts with immune cells, influencing how the body responds to infections.
Brain health: Emerging research suggests a link between the gut microbiome and brain function, potentially affecting mental health and neurological processes.
An imbalance between beneficial and harmful microbes, known as gut dysbiosis, may contribute to weight gain. Studies on identical twins—one with obesity and the other without—suggest that microbiome composition plays a role in body weight independent of genetics. Additionally, animal studies indicate that gut bacteria can influence weight gain, even when calorie intake remains constant.
Probiotics, beneficial bacteria found in supplements and certain foods, can help restore gut balance and support weight loss, though their effects may be modest.
The gut microbiome plays a vital role in preventing and managing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Imbalances in gut bacteria may lead to bloating, cramps, and digestive issues. On the other hand, beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli help strengthen the intestinal lining, reducing the risk of gut-related disorders.
Research suggests that the gut microbiome influences heart health by affecting cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Certain harmful bacteria produce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a compound linked to blocked arteries and heart disease. However, probiotics, particularly those containing Lactobacilli, may help reduce cholesterol levels and promote cardiovascular health.
The gut microbiome also plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels. Research on infants genetically predisposed to type 1 diabetes indicates that gut microbiome diversity declines before disease onset. Furthermore, individual variations in gut bacteria may explain why people experience different blood sugar responses to the same foods.
The gut is physically connected to the brain through nerves, and certain bacteria help produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, which influence mood and mental health. Studies indicate that people with mental health disorders often have different gut bacteria compared to those without such conditions. Additionally, some probiotics have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome is crucial for overall health. Here are some strategies to support gut health:
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A UK woman has claimed that Wegovy and Mounjaro, the blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, did not help her lose much weight despite more than a year of treatment.
Karen Lay, 56, from Essex, spent £4,000 on the medications, hoping they would help her slim down from 16 stone (224 pounds). However, after 15 months, she lost less than a stone, despite eating very little.
Lay now says the injections were far from a "magic fix" and credits a structured diet for helping her lose two stone, the Daily Mail reported.
Lay began taking Wegovy in late 2023 after trying several diets without success. She remained on the medication for nine months, even though she felt something "wasn't right."
“My appetite reduced slightly at first,” Lay, a financial services worker, was quoted as saying. “But not enough to make a meaningful difference, so I increased the dosage each month.”
After seeing limited results with Wegovy, Lay stopped the medication for four weeks before switching to Mounjaro. She described the transition period as experiencing the "worst food noise" and said she gained more than seven pounds while waiting for the first drug to clear from her system.
Lay then spent six months on Mounjaro but said she was "barely eating" and still failed to achieve the weight loss she expected.
“I only lost seven pounds,” she said. “I realised the injections simply weren't effective for me and something had to change.”
Her doctor eventually advised her to stop taking the medication because they were concerned she was not eating enough, the report said.
Lay said the experience was “emotionally exhausting and honestly quite soul-destroying,” and "deeply disheartening.” Watching others succeed on the drugs made it even harder.
After discontinuing the injections, Lay adopted a very low-calorie diet with support from expert nutrition advisers who provided personalized guidance.
“Once the medication was fully out of my system, I began to feel genuinely better,” Lay said, adding that her “energy returned, digestion improved, and the constipation disappeared.”
Within a year, she went from a dress size 18 to size 12, the smallest she had been in 17 years, with her weight falling to 13 stone 5 pounds, the report said.
Clinical trials have shown that most people taking these medications experience substantial weight loss.
Around 2.5 million adults in the UK are estimated to be using weight-loss injections, while hundreds of thousands have signed up for the newly approved Wegovy pill, which was rolled out by the NHS this month.
But some people are 'non-responders', meaning they do not lose a meaningful amount of weight despite treatment. Research earlier this year found that around one in 10 people taking GLP-1 medications are considered non-responders.
Although GLP-1 receptor agonists have delivered remarkable results for many people, they do not work the same way for everyone. Obesity is a complex condition influenced by brain signaling, hormones, genetics, and metabolism, meaning treatment responses can vary significantly. Possible reasons include:
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Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is one of the simplest yet most effective life-saving solutions that every household should keep readily available, doctors said on World ORS Day.
Observed every year on July 29, World ORS Day raises awareness about the importance of ORS—a scientifically formulated mix of glucose and electrolytes, including sodium and potassium—that helps prevent and treat dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, heat, and excessive sweating.
First introduced in 1969, ORS has transformed the treatment of dehydration worldwide. Since 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have recommended a low-osmolarity ORS formula, which improves fluid absorption and reduces the need for intravenous fluids. Today, ORS remains the gold standard for preventing and treating dehydration, particularly in children and people living in resource-limited settings.
Dr. Ranjana Bhatt, Associate Director - Internal Medicine, Paras Health, Panchkula, told HealthandMe that ORS is not a medicine that cures the underlying illness but is designed to prevent and correct dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water and electrolytes than it takes in, most commonly due to diarrhea or vomiting. It can develop rapidly, especially in young children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses.
ORS works through a well-established biological process in the small intestine. It contains the right balance of glucose and sodium, which are absorbed together through special proteins called sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs). As sodium enters the bloodstream, water follows, allowing the body to rehydrate efficiently.
This mechanism makes ORS more effective than plain water—and often more effective than many commercial sports drinks—for replacing lost fluids and electrolytes quickly and safely.
"Recognizing the early signs of dehydration, such as excessive thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, reduced urination, and unusual fatigue, and starting ORS promptly can prevent serious complications. On ORS Day, we encourage every family to make ORS a household essential and use it appropriately while seeking timely medical care whenever symptoms are severe or persistent," Dr. Bhatt said.
Dr. Amit Prakash Singh, Consultant - Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, told HealthandMe that ORS is one of the simplest, most affordable, and most effective ways to prevent dehydration.
"ORS is accessible for almost everyone, and the product is recommended by the World Health Organization to start treating dehydration caused by diarrhea at home. Having ORS packets at home enables treating dehydration without going to the doctor first and potentially avoiding hospitalization," he said.
Besides diarrhea, ORS can help replace fluids and electrolytes lost due to:
"ORS is not just for diarrhea. Whenever there is a lot of fluid loss or electrolyte loss, ORS can be used. ORS can be consumed for vomiting due to gastroenteritis, food poisoning, or viral infection (provided the person can sip small amounts repeatedly)," Dr. Singh said.
Doctors caution that ORS only replaces lost fluids and electrolytes—it does not treat the underlying disease.
It may help prevent dehydration after fever, vomiting, or excessive sweating, but it is not a treatment for abdominal pain, acidity, indigestion, constipation, gastritis, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Persistent or severe symptoms should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional, Dr Singh said.
When buying ORS, check the following:
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Liver disease is unusual among serious conditions in that it can progress significantly without producing symptoms that would prompt most people to seek medical attention. Hepatitis, which is inflammation of the liver, is the most common starting point for that progression.
It may be caused by viral infections including Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, excessive alcohol consumption, fatty liver disease, certain medications, or autoimmune conditions. In many cases, the person carrying it feels entirely well while damage accumulates over months and years.
The liver does regenerate, but that capacity has limits. When inflammation persists, healthy liver cells are progressively replaced by scar tissue, a process called fibrosis.
Continued scarring eventually produces cirrhosis, where the liver loses its structural integrity and its ability to perform the functions the body depends on it for, such as processing toxins, producing proteins involved in blood clotting, regulating metabolism, and supporting digestion. At this stage, the damage is largely irreversible.
The timeline from hepatitis to cirrhosis typically spans years or even decades, which is precisely what makes delayed diagnosis so consequential. Each year of untreated inflammation is a year of accumulated scarring.
By the time cirrhosis produces obvious symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal swelling from fluid accumulation, internal bleeding from enlarged veins in the oesophagus, cognitive changes from toxin build-up, kidney involvement, the disease has already reached an advanced stage. Cirrhosis also carries a significantly elevated risk of liver cancer.
The clinical picture is meaningfully better when liver disease is identified early. Effective antiviral medications can control chronic Hepatitis B and cure most cases of Hepatitis C, substantially reducing the risk of progression.
Fatty liver disease, when caught before significant fibrosis has occurred, can often be reversed through weight management, blood sugar control, reduced alcohol intake, and consistent physical activity. These interventions are accessible, evidence-based changes that work when applied before the disease has advanced.
Screening is where early identification happens. Blood tests measuring liver enzymes and imaging studies can detect liver inflammation and early fibrosis well before symptoms appear.
For individuals with diabetes, obesity, a family history of liver disease, a history of blood transfusions, or other known risk factors, periodic liver assessment is a practical and important part of routine care rather than an optional precaution.
The pattern that gastroenterologists consistently encounter is patients presenting with advanced liver disease who had risk factors identifiable years earlier. Hepatitis B and C are both detectable through simple blood tests.
Fatty liver shows up clearly on ultrasound. The window for effective intervention exists, and it is considerably wider earlier in the disease than most people assume when they have never been tested.
This draws attention to a disease that carries a substantial global burden but remains widely undertreated because it does not announce itself. For anyone with known risk factors, or who has never had their liver function assessed, the appropriate response to that is a conversation with a physician, before symptoms, rather than after.
By Dr. Saswata Chatterjee, Senior Consultant – Gastroenterology, CMRI Hospital
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