A microbiome-driven approach to combating depression during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fermented foods are often associated with positive health effects, particularly through their impact on gut microbiota; however, current research supporting these claims remains limited. This study by Pihelgas et al. (2025) investigated the health impacts of eating fermented vegetables (FVs)—specifically fermented carrots, kohlrabi, and kimchi—by examining changes in gut microbiota and other health-related measures. Researchers […]

This 2014 article explains that microbes living in the gastrointestinal tract are incentivized to alter the host’s eating behaviors (e.g., in humans). These microbes may do this by generating cravings for foods that they specialize on or that inhibit their competitors, or by inducing dissatisfaction until the host eats foods that favor these microbes. This […]