Our gut is home to a community of over 100 trillion microorganisms, all of which affect our lives massively. A healthy gut community promotes healthy brain function, metabolic activity, healthy nutrient uptake, and the development of the enteric nervous system, elicits antidepressant effects, and forms a natural barrier that protects from infection. At the University of Colorado-Boulder, researchers have been doing studies on how exercising early in life affects the gut’s microbial community. If it is beneficial then it would be good for children to be active so that they can have the advantages of a healthy gut microbial community.
Researches tested rats to find an answer. When observing the rats, they found that physically active young rats had more beneficial and extended probiotic bacterial species in their
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On the other hand, sedentary younger rats and even physically active adult rats didn’t have a nearly as good a gut. This proves that exercising earlier in life does, in fact, improve your gut microbial community. Researchers also conclude that the reason for this is that though the microbial community in our gut is pliable during adulthood based on sleep patterns and diet, it is more pliable at a younger age. This is why it is beneficial for children to exercise while the gut is more easily influenced.
The topics covered in this article are about how exercise can affect bacteria in the gut at a young age. Because we have already learned about bacteria in class, I was able to better understand the article as I was reading it because of my background knowledge on the topic. For example, in the article, the author talked a little
To understand the human gut health and aetiology, the first step is to understand the gastrointestinal (GI) microflora and its distribution through the digestive system [2]. The human GI tract is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, which together is known as the microbiota [5]. These microorganisms come from both archeal and bacterial domains. Bacteria are the predominant kingdom of organisms and it is composed mainly by five bacterial phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia [3]. The great majority of mammalian gut microbiota belongs to the three phyla: the Gram-negative anaerobe Bacteroidetes, the Gram-positive Actinobacteria and Firmicutes [5].
J.F. Sallis (1993) “Epidemiology of Physical Activity and Fitness in Adolescents”, in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Vol.33. no.4-5, 403-408.
In order for children to achieve wellness, they are completely dependent upon the adults in their lives: parents, caregivers, friends, and teachers. In order to achieve wellness, teachers and caregivers must model and exhibit appropriate behaviors, i.e. exercise, healthy eating habits, personal hygiene, emotional fulfillment, and knowledge of healthy habits. Children begin learning this at home first with their parents/caregivers. Teachers are the next important person in a child’s life to help them achieve wellness (Sorte, et al., 2011). It is imperative for teachers and families to work together in order to achieve wellness for children.
A microbiome is the proportion and types of microorganisms that are living in a specific location. It is important, for the microbiome not only breaks down in the gut but also absorbs nutrients. They correlate to a person’s health overall, their diet, and their environment. The transformation of bile and the production of amino acids and vitamins are found by bacteria inside the animal gut microbiome. Furthermore, it gives a passage for carbohydrates that are non-digestible as well as allow energy recovery and nutrient for growth in bacteria.
The often cited idiom ‘gut instinct’ is actually a deeply rooted scientific fact. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that there is a logical explanation as to why our stomach is so sensitive to emotion. Bacteria in our bodies have been shown to essentially manipulate the brain, with the interconnections between the gut, brain, immune, and hormonal systems impossible to unravel.
Probiotics are good live bacteria and yeast that are beneficial to the body. The microorganisms are available in some foods and dietary supplements. Probiotics work in the same manner as the probiotics that live naturally in the gut. The three main sources of probiotics in the body are; naturally existing probiotics in the intestines, supplements and foods. The naturally existing probiotics in the intestines include Saccharomyces boulardii and Bifobacterium and Lactobacillus family of microorganisms. Another bacterium called Lactoacidophilus is found in certain types of yoghurt.
We have all heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. This saying appears to be nothing more than a silly children’s rhyme. However, if we think about it, we still remember it and this silly little rhyme encouraged us to eat fruit. As we reflect back on our childhood many of us can recall our parents encouraging us to eat our vegetables and to go outside and play. Why did they do this? Because it was and is an essential part of our healthy growth. In present day, where technology and fast food are far more prevalent, children are receiving far less encouragement to be healthy. In order to live a healthy lifestyle children and adolescents need to spend, “60 minutes or more being physically active ("Physical Activity Guidelines
As stated in “Understanding Your Health”, “Food Supports growth and development by providing the body with nutrients needed for energy, repair of damaged tissue, growth of new tissue, and regulation of physiological processes.” (Payne, Hahn & Lucas 113). It may sound obvious to say food is responsible for life, but when a person lives a life where food is always accessible, it is far too easy to forget the importance of food. Eating can often become and arbitrary part of living, but what a
For instance, kids who are obese have a better chance of getting cancer and other health problems,“They found that each unit of increase in being overweight at age 13, generally corresponding to a two- to three-point increase in B.M.I., increased the risk of developing colon cancer by 9 percent, with the risk of cancer of the sigmoid colon (the part closest to the rectum) increased by 11 percent” (Brody). Obesity can risk a child’s life in many ways. In addition, these health problems for kids can result in death, “In fact, health officials say that obesity--a condition in which a person is dangerously overweight--is one of the biggest health crises facing the U.S. today. It can cause all sorts of serious problems, like cancer and heart failure, and it's a leading cause of death. It's also affecting a shocking number of young people: More than 16 percent of kids ages 2 to 19 are obese” (Lewis). Obesity is one of the biggest health problems that is still questioned on what the solution is. Although health problems are a problem, schools are adding in exercise programs and encouraging kids to walk or bike to school. “With the strong leadership of the mayor, the blue-collar city of Somerville, Massachusetts, lowered the rate of obesity in its elementary schools by promoting exercise in schools, smaller portions in restaurants, health counseling, and biking and walking to school. (The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supported all three of these initiatives.)” (Ambinder). Schools are now realizing that kids need their daily exercise in order to stay healthy and stay in shape. Obesity can cause many health problems and risk a child’s
The most popular bacteria strain for probiotics is Lactobacillus acidophilus.It's been known for acting as a defense system against harmful bacteria when taking antibiotics (Jones 1). Lactobacillus has at least 140 known benefits dealing with liver functions,the immune system, digestive track and more (Jerkunica,Bailey, and Gall 1). This bacteria has been well known for fighting off cramps, diarrhea, and gas. Scientific evidence has shown prob...
There are many areas of healthcare and medicine that have a strong need for the development of new products, treatments, and technologies. One such area that would greatly benefit from novel developments surrounds the threat posed by microbes to human health. Microbes exist in hundreds of different forms, making it very difficult to develop a generalized treatment that can combat a broad selection of microbes. The microbes can be very dangerous to human health. They can cause severe disease and possibly death if they are untreated. The problem has been exacerbated recently as microbes have become increasingly resilient and resistant to existing treatment options. These hardy strains of microbes can survive treatment with conventional antibiotics
We have probably all heard from our parents or doctors to eat fruits and veggies. But a common misconception among young people is that the only way to eat healthy is by eating fruits and veggies. However, to have a balanced diet, you must choose what you eat depending on what activity you are going to do. For example, when you get ready to go to a sporting event, if you want to do well, you should make sure you have protein by eating some chicken and then have a few grapes. Often people sell themselves short of what they can accomplish in exercise because of the food they eat. A balanced diet will help you to physically accomplish more. However, our bodies are like cars. Without fuel, they wont go. You can’t expect to eat chips and drink a Coke before a sporting event and succeed. Not only would this prevent you from succeeding, but it would make the activity challenging and tiring. However, when you have proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants through a balanced d...
Physical activity is essential in developing an overall healthy life for everyone, including school-aged children. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical activity is a determinant to building and maintaining healthy bones and muscles, while also improving social and mental health status of the child. The prevalence of childhood obesity is on the rise and daily physical activity in children has been proven to be effective in preventing childhood obesity and reducing the risks factors. Research evidence also indicates that physical activity can improve academic achievements in grades and standardized test scores.
A child’s proper growth depends greatly on their nutrition and health. A healthy diet is essential to the developing child. Food should never be used to reward, punish, or bribe a child. Instead children should have three healthy meals with snacks in between. It is also important for children to have good self care behaviors (including bathing, washing hands, brushing teeth), and adequate sleep.
Exercising is essential for the health of our minds and bodies. Not only can it improve our current functioning, research in epigenetics has shown that the practice of exercise can physically alter the expression of DNA, which can be passed down through generations. The implication of this research allows us to see that the environments that we place ourselves in and interact with can drastically alter our lives, right down to the expression of our DNA. This means that exercise can be so beneficial, that is may cause certain negative genes to be inhibited from being expressed. While changes in the expression of our genes may be altered, our phenotype, the underlying genotype is unchanged. We can see that engaging in beneficial activities, such as exercise, allows us to become healthier