Scientific colonialism or progress? Chronic diseases can be treated by gut bacteria from hunter-gatherer societies

Scientists study the gut microbiome in hunter-gatherer societies to understand the health benefits of a more “primitive” microbiome. This research raises ethical questions but also raises hopes for new treatments for diseases ranging from arthritis and depression to Alzheimer's.

It is clear that in developed countries we have lost many species that may have been essential to human evolution. They simply died.

-Justin Sonnenberg, microbiome researcher at Stanford University

People in developed countries increasingly suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. These diseases are linked to a number of factors, including unhealthy diets, environmental pollution and overuse of antibiotics. In contrast, hunter-gatherer communities have a much lower risk of developing these diseases, which may be related to the state of their gut microbiome.

After studying about Stool the Yanomami In the Amazon rainforest, and in the Hadza tribe of northern Tanzania, I found that the gut bacteria of hunter-gatherer societies are more diverse and healthier than those in industrialized societies. They may have more types of bacteria associated with good health.

So researchers have one Study by Justin Sonnenburg They published that they had found several million protein families in the gut of the Hazda community, more than half of which had never before been identified in the human gut, as well as tens of thousands of microbial genomes that had never been recorded before.

The more diversity, the more [mikrobielle] We have genes, and the more genes we carry, the more biochemical work they can do.

– Emma Allen Vercoe, a microbiologist at the University of Guelph in Canada

Bacterial species play an important role In digestion, nutrient absorption, immune system and mental health. The reasons for differences in the microbiome between hunter-gatherer societies and people in industrialized societies are complex and not yet fully understood. However, the following factors are thought to play a role:

• Diet: Hunter-gatherer societies tend to eat more varied and healthier diets than people in industrialized societies. You eat more plant foods, less processed foods and less sugar.
• Environmental factors: Hunter-gatherer societies live in a natural environment less polluted by pollutants and antibiotics.
• Lifestyle: Hunter-gatherer societies tend to be more active than people in industrial societies.

Finding lost microbes in hunter-gatherer societies is a complex task that must be carried out carefully. It is not yet clear whether there is such a thing as an ideal microbiome and how it can be achieved. However, this research could lead to a better understanding of the microbiome and microorganisms Developing new treatments for diseases Driving.

I'm fascinated by futuristic scenarios and imaginative worlds, which is why I love engaging with topics like AI, AR, and gaming and writing about them on Notebookcheck. In order to devote myself more deeply to these fields, I studied design, digital media and art after working as a goldsmith and silversmith. In my free time, I also play music and spend a lot of time in nature with my dogs.