Do gut bacteria rule our minds?

[StringJunky]

It sounds like science fiction, but it seems that bacteria within us—which outnumber our own cells about 100-fold—may very well be affecting both our cravings and moods to get us to eat what they want, and often are driving us toward obesity.

In an article published this week in the journal BioEssays, researchers from UC San Francisco, Arizona State University and University of New Mexico concluded from a review of the recent scientific literature that microbes influence human eating behavior and dietary choices to favor consumption of the particular nutrients they grow best on, rather than simply passively living off whatever nutrients we choose to send their way....Read more

 

[Unity+]

It sounds like science fiction, but it seems that bacteria within us—which outnumber our own cells about 100-fold—may very well be affecting both our cravings and moods to get us to eat what they want, and often are driving us toward obesity.

In an article published this week in the journal BioEssays, researchers from UC San Francisco, Arizona State University and University of New Mexico concluded from a review of the recent scientific literature that microbes influence human eating behavior and dietary choices to favor consumption of the particular nutrients they grow best on, rather than simply passively living off whatever nutrients we choose to send their way....Read more

 

Would it be possible to produce a bacteria that would influence humans to eat human flesh?

 

[dimreepr]

It sounds like science fiction, but it seems that bacteria within us—which outnumber our own cells about 100-fold—may very well be affecting both our cravings and moods to get us to eat what they want, and often are driving us toward obesity.

In an article published this week in the journal BioEssays, researchers from UC San Francisco, Arizona State University and University of New Mexico concluded from a review of the recent scientific literature that microbes influence human eating behavior and dietary choices to favor consumption of the particular nutrients they grow best on, rather than simply passively living off whatever nutrients we choose to send their way....Read more

 

 

 

 

I think it’s certainly possible given the following:

 

Mind controlling fungus

 

Mind controlling parasites

 

Mind controlling virus

[CharonY]

Note that the current evidence is quite weak and likely spurious. That is not to say that there are no interactions, but they are more likely do complex metabolic interactions rather than targeted manipulations as in cases of other parasites.

Edited August 18, 2014 by CharonY

[Marshalscienceguy]

It sounds like science fiction, but it seems that bacteria within us—which outnumber our own cells about 100-fold—may very well be affecting both our cravings and moods to get us to eat what they want, and often are driving us toward obesity.

In an article published this week in the journal BioEssays, researchers from UC San Francisco, Arizona State University and University of New Mexico concluded from a review of the recent scientific literature that microbes influence human eating behavior and dietary choices to favor consumption of the particular nutrients they grow best on, rather than simply passively living off whatever nutrients we choose to send their way....Read more

 

I didn't think this was anything new. We already know how depriving people from vitamins can give them different ailments and have physical effects on bodies. We know some people get very agitated or tired when they do not eat. We know imbalance of hormones change a females mood and cravings on period and that periods as well as pregnancy deprives females of different minerals and vitamins the female needs. We also know that certain foods and certain vitamins influence brain activity like fish for example. So how exactly is this information really that surprising? Hormones and sex drive is also said to be effected by certain foods. Hormones have an influence in digestion and burning calories. We know how drugs effect behavior and brain chemistry as well. Food = vitamins/minerals/calories = health= Psychology/mood/physical wellness. Its a fact people need some sugar to survive as well as other type of minerals. Your mental wellness, your physical wellness, your hormones, your metabolism and your mood and what food you eat all are strung together in this complicated system your body makes up.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Marshalscienceguy