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WE KNOW HOW important it is to look after our heart, liver and other organs for our overall health and wellbeing, but what about our gut?
Research in recent years has shown that our gut health can affect us in more ways than we’ve ever known, from our immune system to our brain.
“Gut health has become really popular over the last 10 years or so,” says Aoife McDonald, a dietician at The Digestive Health Clinic. “That’s due to advances in scientific research, where they’re actually able to see through DNA sequencing what bacteria and other things are in the gut, when that couldn’t really be done before.”
We spoke to Aoife to find out exactly why we need to pay attention to our gut health, but first, let’s get our terms straight:
“In gut health, there are two terms which are used interchangeably, although they’re slightly different. Gut microbiome refers to all of the bacteria in your gut, plus all their genetic material. Then there’s gut microbiota, which just refers to the microbes (microorganisms) in the gut.”
Got it? Read on.
“Gut health is important for your energy levels,” says Aoife. Even if you follow a healthy diet, your gut needs to be functioning correctly in order to ensure that you are absorbing and digesting food correctly.
“If your gastrointestinal (GI) tract isn’t working properly, then you’re not going to be able to extract energy and protein etc from your food.”
“We know from research that the more diverse your gut microbiota is, the better,” says Aoife. “If people have too many of the ‘bad guys’ or bad bacteria in their gut, they’re more likely to develop certain diseases or conditions.”
“Diet can have a big impact on gut bacteria, so looking after your gut through diet and other things – like sleep – can help you get the best microbiota you can.”
The more plant food you’re eating, the better.
So we know about the ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut, but how do we encourage the presence of ‘good’ bacteria? “What the microbes feed on is mainly fibre, so that’s why we encourage people to have a high fibre diet, if they can tolerate it, because that’s what the microbes like,” explains Aoife.
“Humans don’t have enzymes that can break down fibre, so it gets all the way through to the large intestine, and that’s where the gut bacteria are and they ferment it or eat it. That’s how you feed the ‘good guys’.”
“After fermenting the fibre, then the most common thing they produce are short chain fatty acids. These are very important and they help towards improving inflammation in the body. They kind of are a food for the cells lining the gut, so that can keep the gut barrier strong, which can prevent the wrong things getting into the bloodstream.”
We also know that Omega 3 can contribute towards feeding the good bacteria.
Have you ever felt worried or stressed, and then gotten an upset stomach? That could be because of the link between your brain and your gut.
“Your gut and brain are connected,” says Aoife. “So if someone’s nervous and has an upset stomach before an exam, that can mean there was a communication between the gut and the brain. Your gut has its own nervous system and it is directly connected to your brain. So if your brain is feeling something, your gut can feel it and vice versa.”
“About 70% of your immune tissues or cells are in the gut or lining the gut,” says Aoife. “We know that gut health is often linked to immunity. So if someone is suffering from digestive problems, they may be more likely to suffer from infections or the common cold. Their immune system can be affected in that way. That could be to do with if they’re not eating a diverse diet and therefore their gut is suffering, and their body isn’t able to produce the immune cells effectively.”
Fortunately, gut health is something people of all ages and stages of life can improve. “We’re born with DNA which you can’t change, but we know that we can change the gut microbiota,” says Aoife.
Looking to improve your gut health? Aqua Biome is an easy way to help look after your gut every day. It’s designed for a healthy microbiome and contains an optimal Omega blend to bring diversity to your microbiome which, in turn, can lead to benefits including improved energy and immunity. Find out more about Aqua Biome here.
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Eh….why the vow of celibacy so.
A bit rich coming from the head of a celibit cult.
Sometimes the hypocrisy is dumbfounding isn’t it!
The same celebit cult that will tell married couples how to deal with relationship problems.
Spot on !!!
Methinks someone’s laying the ground works for one Hell of an excuse…
*celibate
What about the choice to have lots of children and then treat them like shyte?
Your name suits you …..did the Pope not say Catholics do not have to breed like rabbits ??????
My name? Ooooohh…I get it. I think you might mean ‘moron’ instead of ‘Moran’. If you’re going to slag someone off at least get it right Helen. Or are you just stoking up trouble, ya Stoker?
Imagine the shite he’d come out with drunk?
I’d say he is half cut most of the time robbie
Communion wine?
Yes… because the world isn’t already over populated enough.
To be honest the world isn’t overpopulated despite what all the fear porn on the subject says.
Devoting yourself to a life of celibacy is grand, though.
Pope’s guide to being a good person in two easy steps, based on his pronouncements of the last two weeks:
1) Have children
2) Beat them (in a loving way) when you finally realise you’re not equipped to bring up children
Sometimes it takes a pretty selfless person to realise they may be selfish to have a kid.
I know plenty of childless couples who are quite content without children. I think most of the time its not a selfish decision but a responsible one. Sometimes its not even a decision, they are happy with their lot and want to keep it that way
Lets face it when a child comes into a relationship its like putting a bomb under it. Its feckin mayhem!
So he thinks that straight cupples are selfish for not wanting children and gay cupples are selfish if they do. He thinks that a straight cupple having a child is a gift from God and a gay cupple having a child is child abuse. O sorry I forgot he is celibate and never had a child. Shur isn’t that what qualifies him to know. Just like his predecessors qualifications enabled them know that the right thing to do was to sell of the children of un married mothers the highest bidder. But Shur listen lads and ladies the Pope knows best.
It all started out so well Francis….
What does he have to say about the people who can’t have children or have them and then they are taken away to be little angels?
Men in frocks shouldn’t talk about “having” children, that’s what normally gets them into trouble
He hasn’t been to Africa recently I’m guessing
Is it worse if i don’t have kids, or have kids but don’t beat them? The Catholic Church really needs to clarify these issues.
Well he said it’s ok to slap your child as long as it is somewhere it cant be seen soooooo…
How on earth does he keep that suit clean..must require more than 2 dry cleans a year
He uses DAZ.
They should make something of that. “When washing away the sins of the world is not enough, you need Daz.”
Dirt doesn’t stick to the pope, it moves and gets hidden by cardinals and bishops.
How dare he. We chose not to have children it was our choice and not selfish we had our own reasons. I’m disgusted.
And to sell children run by the religious orders wasn’t selfish. Hypocrite
Another load of bull from the Vatican
Would that be papal bull?
“Don’t be selfish, everyone – you must have children …but, hey, don’t breed like rabbits either! When you have children, you can feel free to beat them as much as you feel the defenceless human beings ‘deserve’ …but only in a ‘beautiful’ way that doesn’t harm their dignity”.
That just about sums up the great man’s last three messages.
His church needs a steady stream of sex slaves and laundry operators to survive!
Pope call himself selfish!
Logic of the RCC.
What a lecturing hypocritical arse wipe (yes I’m in a relationship that’s chosen not to have kids and with good reasons).
Its none of his business
It’s best not to have children because of the shite his angry god created!
Someone has been listening g to Stephen fry
The ‘hipster-pope’ thing was fun for a while, but he needs to shut his noise hole now.
At least If you choose not to have kids at least you won’t be able to beat them your holiness.
Easy for him to say living a life of luxury. He doesn’t have to worry about how he’s gonna feed or clothe kids. Self righteous a hole
Well he should know.
Ah they loves the kiddies they don’t wNt a shortage
As a very happily man with no children, the Pope’s views no longer are of relevance to me.
People can choose to have children or not to have children. It is their own choice and not the business of the Pope.
Having children is an immensely responsible and difficult undertaking. I’m full of admiration for their commitment and sacrifice when they are good parents.
Affordability is a major factor. If we live in an anti child society, where Government policy towards families with children are so harsh, this is a deterrent factor.
Even a non parent like me knows the cost of crèches and child care. Will the Pope tell the Government to develop pro family policies?
For now, we pay higher taxes than if we did have children, thereby providing some assistance but not enough assistance. Childless couples should pay even more tax. Society benefits from children but not all of us are suitable to be parents.
“Childless couples should pay even more tax” HUH? red thumbed ya right there Anthony
For a long time now, the popes, and the catholic church, views have had no relevance to me also.
What a pathetic old man
A lot of you are completely missing the point. If you’re Christian and you choose not to have children it is selfish. I choose not to have children because I am selfish. I don’t want the expenditure, the effort or the sleepless nights. If you’re not Christian then his message doesn’t really apply to you.
If you found yrself pregnant in the morning what would you do Emma since you don’t want children
Emma, I’m Christian and God has chosen not to bless me and my husband with children. Am I selfish? I don’t think so.
Emma this mans hypocrisy is beyond measure. How can a man that has never had sex been in an intimate relationship or had a child have an opinion on it. He is speaking from a position of ignorance.
The decision not to have children is actually quite selfless in most cases, I would imagine.
Furthermore, the pope’s comments are quite insensitive to couples who can’t have children but would like to.
Emma is right people. This is what he is supposed to say. If you are not catholic just ignore it. Religions are all about removing personal choice. This is just another example of that. Nothing new here, nothing surprising. Just ignore and move on. It doesn’t apply unless you are catholic and if you are this is what you signed up for
Actually Catherine, some eejit encouraging his followers, most of which are poor people from less developed countries, affects everybody. Not just catholics.
No you are wrong. It doesn’t. He has already said catholics dont need to breed like rabbits. Islam encourages reproducing and allows youth take a few wives in order to do that. Religions always encourages reproducing and maintaining the numbers of the faithful for the next generation. Equally we have the state in China telling families for years they could only have one child. Essentially reproducing should be the concern on the twould people concerned. If you are going to criticise the Pope then equally you should criticise Islam and a lot of other religions also. If you are worried about over population. Also.if you are worried about a third party getting involved in a couples decision to reproduce then you need to also include China in that criticism. Poor people are also entitled to.reproduce and traditionally having several children is necessary to ensure you have someone to look after you when you are old. Many children didn’t make it past infancy. So there are cultural and practical reasons for many poorer people reproducing. Also mostly it boils down to lack of availability of contraception.
No, I’m not wrong.
The difference is having the CHOICE. I am capable of having children I just choose not to. It is absolutely a selfish choice. Ask any couple why they choose not to have kids and you’ll get the honest answer – money, holidays, nice things. I’m the exact same way, I am selfish in not wanting to have children. The man is bang on the money.
Unpopular opinion, but then again the truth is generally unpopular.
Derek, please detail how, if you have the means, choosing not to have children is selfless?
Also Dave, different situation. The topic is about choice and choosing not to have a child, not about abortion – which you are clearly trying to bring about.
I have been married for over 15 years, my husband and I both have good jobs and have the “means” but neither have the maternal/paternal instincts, should we have kids because we can afford them?
Maybe your “god ” is then?
Usual bollocks from the corpse-on-a-stick cult!
Ya wouldn’t be suggesting the use of artificial contraception now woulda!
I actually agreed with his original comments about (occassionally) smacking children, but he’s totally lost his marbles this time round. In Ireland you need to be on combined gross salary of at least €80k (or else on the social welfare goldmine career) just to provide bare essentials to a family of 2 kids. Most don’t earn that much.
The church would be advised to shut its mouth on this one with their record of selfish acts primarily against children
Pot, kettle, black comes to mind. All they are worried about are bums on seats and pennies in collection plates. Well, if he’s that worried and its SO selfish, why doesn’t HE go off and knock out a few kids for the cause?
Oh, rather than waiting until I’m ready to have children, until I have the means to support them and the maturity to rear them in a happy environment so that they’ll have the opportunity to grow into balanced, healthy adults, I’d better just breed like a rabbit because a celibate Argentinian in a dress is saying I’m selfish. I’ll also hit them on their bodies to discipline them, it’s beautiful because I don’t humiliate them that way. I’d also love to shoot myself straight in the face in public as a statement about how the Catholic Church is getting so much media attention for just being a mental old man right now and yet a crazy girl shooting herself in the face to convey the futility of it all would probably get two lines and be forgotten about. Why do we continue to indulge this insanity.
He is right. It is selfish. However nothing wrong with being selfish and doing what is best for you.
NOT having children isn’t selfish. If you put serious thought into such a huge decision, and decide you cannot bring a child up in the best possible way, you are being selfless. Ultimately YOU lose out on something so wonderful. However if you feel you cannot afford a child/give a child all the emotional, mental and physical needs etc, and therefore doesn’t go on to have one, in my view you are nothing but responsible and selfless!
In a world that is way over populated as it is, I would argue that having children is probably the more selfish act.
What do you call this pope whose housing and protecting Pedophiles?
Am I finding the irony of this coming from a man who has taken a vow of Celibacy and is probably a virgin ??
Reminds me slightly of “Every sperm is sacred” song from Monty Pythons “The meaning of life” film!!
Don’t you just love taking marriage and parenting advice from those who haven’t had either, it’s like being in a plane with screaming children and someone who has never had kids asking if you could shut them up.
Having children is as selfish as not having them really. Leave it to the celibate lecturers though to tell the Irish sheeple whats best!
You had a good run Francis, but at the end of the day a pope is a pope.
I think that when ur in a hole ,u should stop digging .
Easy for him to say, he does not have any children
Remind me, how many kids does Pope Frankie have again?
So this pedophile ring leader who is housing the majority of the worlds pedophiles and won’t hand them over to the police is now advising us on whether we should or shouldn’t be having children??? Didn’t he also quote something about its ok to smack kids as long as it isn’t in the face!!! This coming from a man who has never had children and goes around in a adult size baby gown?
It is selfish but there’s nothing wrong with being selfish sometimes.
That’s ok. I’m selfish, I’m atheist and you’re just a weird dude in a dress.
Hmm.. Children do enrich your life for sure but everything in moderation!
Having lots of kids made sense when life expectancy was shorter and we didn’t have the medicines, technologies and societal advances that we have now.
Seems that CC ideology was developed in a very different time and needs to catch up.
But then this Pope did also say something like not to be breeding like rabbits. Maybe he is somewhere in between then.. but where exactly? I think some clarity and specificity on his position would be welcome for the millions that follow the CC – look at the poor catholic countries with population challenges – they may be getting confused by different messages.
For me having 2 kids in my thirties is my ideal scenario.
The honeymoon is over for this P. R Pope and now we begin to see his true underbelly. Greedy generation? How many billions have the Vatican got? How many churches worldwide and how many masses daily with up to three collection plates! Now who is being greedy?
How many children does he have? I know some of the Princes of the Church(modest name Jesus was all about the modesty) the Cardinals have a few sprogs but that’s all under wraps.
This guy thinks it’s OK to hit children! Is that a message that correlates with the alleged teachings of Jesus?
The sad thing is some people think this is God’s earthly representative but in reality it’s an old man who was elected by other old men who are allegedly celibate and believe the same dogmas of nonsense and belong to an organisation that makes the mafia look like saints.
Could it not also be a very unselfish decision. Most of us end up wanting kids. However the world is already over populated, 7 billion heading for 9 billion mid century. We’re continually fighting each other over land, oil, gas, food (probably water)…let’s not kid ourselves that wars are just about religion. If a couple decide not to have a kid, surely this will reduce the future problems for other peoples kids.
So how many children does he have???
You’re selfish.
Translation: You’re not doing things my way.
It is clear that the majority don’t agree with his ramblings
I wasn’t finished, as I was saying: It is clear the majority don’t agree with his ramblings. That’s why it is hard to understand why the majority still say they are part of his church on the senses in this country. Boggles me…
Edward your argument suggests they ever had a choice in the first place? Tell me who had the choice here that didnt immigrate, if you were born here you were forced into Catholicism thats kinda how this whole thing works, in spite of your own convictions. I gather youre religious but take me for example , Im agnostic – I leave others to their devices but I will speak up where those force their beliefs near me. Yet I cannot leave due to changes in canon law, Im guessing a result of clerical abuse findings. This is a country that has a majority support but because they call themselves Catholic. We are far from all practicing again whatever about your own convictions.
Not getting kids is as selfish as is not getting a pet. If that’s the definition of being selfish, let it be so.
Why doesn’t he have any kids then? Or is there something we don’t know?
Not a surprising statement. The man is cracked. It’s a qualifier for the position. You can be an angry cracked pope, like the one he replaced, or a kind and bungling old pope like ol’ Frank is.
How many kids has he got himself?
It’s actually none of his business. Where are all his kids? Oh the irony.
Well technically he himself chose not to have any!!
Priests, Monks and Nuns will wonder at this lol.
I am waiting on Petrus Romanus…
China and india are very selfless and they turned out fine
Loving this new pope.
Hahaha, and how many children does the Pope have?
… this to me seems like another ‘off the cuff’ comment from the pope, maybe he should chat to his media section first before he has a run at the ordinary people that follow his church. But debate is always good…
have your say