4 articles
Intermittent fasting (IF) influences not only caloric intake but also the ecosystem of the gut microbiome. Research suggests that distinct windows of eating and fasting may alter the composition and metabolic activity of these trillions of microorganisms.
The digestive system extends beyond its role in food processing. Often termed the "second brain," the gut contains a complex, autonomous network of neurons known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), which possesses the capacity to function independently of the central nervous system.
Two lines of defence: one reacts instantly to anything foreign, the other is slower but learns and remembers. Vaccines work through the second.
Gut bacteria digest fibre, make vitamins and talk to the immune system and brain. But the gap between correlation and causation here is still wide.
