What to feed your gut microbiome

+ home runs and global warming; warning on fungal diseases US Edition - Today's top story: Hangry bacteria in your gut microbiome are linked to chronic disease – feeding them what they need could lead to happier cells and a healthier body [View in browser]( US Edition | 12 April 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( You’ve most likely heard of the gut microbiome – the trillions of microbes that live in our digestive tract – and its important role in health. University of Washington gastroenterologist Christopher Damman’s article on the [microbiome-mitochondria axis will deepen your understanding]( and help you appreciate the medicinal potential of food. He explains that this area of research, which focuses on how the “microbiome’s biochemical signals regulate the growth and function of energy-producing mitochondria” in certain cells, could be critical to understanding which types of foods can address chronic diseases. Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with ADHD, and the recent shortage of the drug Adderall has brought attention to people with this condition. University of Florida neuroscientist Habibeh Khoshbouei provides an excellent explainer on how [amphetamines like Adderall and Ritalin affect people’s dopamine levels]( and act as treatment for people with ADHD. She also details the dangers to people without ADHD who use these drugs, which include cardiovascular complications, sleep disturbances and addiction. Last month the CDC issued a warning on the fungus Candida auris, which is spreading disease in hospitals; our editors reached out to an [infectious disease expert to explain what you need to know](. One of the most widely covered climate studies last week was one that found that global warming is contributing to the [trend of more home runs in professional baseball](. And in a story popular with readers last week, a coastal scientist writes about the [huge floating mats of brown seaweed called sargassum]( now heading toward Florida in the Caribbean. Also in this week’s science news: - [The physiology behind motion sickness]( - [Change to mammography reporting could lead to many questions]( - [How antibiotic tolerance leads to antibiotic resistance]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters The gut microbiome may play a role in regulating the body’s appetite, cognition and immune responses. nopparit/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Hangry bacteria in your gut microbiome are linked to chronic disease – feeding them what they need could lead to happier cells and a healthier body]( Christopher Damman, University of Washington Research has examined how ultraprocessed foods can contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mood disorders. A healthier diet is one way to use food as medicine. Many people with ADHD are finding it difficult to get their Adderall prescriptions filled amid the shortage. AP Photo/Jenny Kane [Misuse of Adderall promotes stigma and mistrust for patients who need it – a neuroscientist explains the science behind the controversial ADHD drug]( Habibeh Khoshbouei, University of Florida For those who need it, Adderall and other stimulants can be game-changing medications that help restore the chemical imbalances underlying ADHD. But for those who don’t, these drugs can be harmful. The Drake Passage, seen from Antarctica, is one of the most turbulent ocean regions on Earth. Lilian Dove [In the turbulent Drake Passage, scientists find a rare window where carbon sinks quickly into the deep ocean]( Lilian (Lily) Dove, California Institute of Technology Working with underwater robots, scientists show how deep sea mountains and fast currents between Antarctica and South America play a crucial role in stabilizing the climate. [Don’t bet with ChatGPT – study shows language AIs often make irrational decisions]( Mayank Kejriwal, University of Southern California Language model AIs are smooth talkers, but you shouldn’t rely on them to make important decisions. That’s because they have trouble telling the difference between a gain and a loss. [Macaque monkeys shrink their social networks as they age – new research suggests evolutionary roots of a pattern seen in elderly people, too]( Erin Siracusa, University of Exeter; Noah Snyder-Mackler, Arizona State University Many older people tend to trim their social circles and focus their social efforts on family and close friends. New research on our close primate relatives may help explain why. [How do trees die?]( Camille Stevens-Rumann, Colorado State University Even in death, a tree helps others live. [Jupiter’s moons hide giant subsurface oceans – two upcoming missions are sending spacecraft to see if these moons could support life]( Mike Sori, Purdue University The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer and Europa Clipper missions will arrive at Jupiter in the 2030s and provide researchers with unprecedented access to the icy moons orbiting the gas giant. [Deadly fungus Candida auris is spreading across US hospitals - a physician answers 5 questions about rising fungal infections]( Arif R. Sarwari, West Virginia University Candida auris is a relatively new addition to a family of fungi that can infect people. Most of these infections occur in sick, hospitalized patients and can be deadly. [MLB home run counts are rising – and global warming is playing a role]( Christopher W. Callahan, Dartmouth College; Justin S. Mankin, Dartmouth College Scientists analyzed 100,000 baseball games, from the days of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays to Aaron Judge. Here’s what they learned about the climate’s growing role. - [The FDA’s rule change requiring providers to inform women about breast density could lead to a flurry of questions]( Wendie A. Berg, University of Pittsburgh Dense breast tissue is common and normal, but it can make cancer more difficult to detect. FDA requirements going into effect in September 2024 will dictate that patients be better informed about it. - [Looming behind antibiotic resistance is another bacterial threat – antibiotic tolerance]( Megan Keller, Cornell University Antibiotic resistance has contributed to millions of deaths worldwide. Research suggests that any bacteria can develop antibiotic tolerance, and possibly resistance, when pushed to their limits. - [What causes motion sickness? Here’s how to reconcile the mismatch in what your senses are telling your brain]( James Phillips, University of Washington Motion sickness results when your senses report conflicting information to your brain that it can’t reconcile based on its expectations about how the world works. - [The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is carrying a massive bloom of brown seaweed toward Florida and the Caribbean]( Stephen P. Leatherman, Florida International University Scientists are predicting a record sargassum bloom in 2023. It’s already starting to wash up on beaches in Florida and the Caribbean and cause a stink. - [Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is filling ICUs this spring – a pediatric infectious disease specialist explains this little-known virus]( John V. Williams, University of Pittsburgh Similar to the patterns seen with COVID-19, flu and RSV, HMPV is making a comeback after years of being repressed by people wearing masks and social distancing. - Like this newsletter? 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