Written by Tim Rigby
One of the most recent trends in nutrition as it pertains to health is the emphasis on a healthy gut. A few short decades ago, you’d never see probiotics mass-marketed and widely available; however, recent research has led to a better understanding of how the state of your gut can have a wide-reaching impact on your overall health.
Enter tomatoes. We all know how delicious and healthy they are, particularly with regard to delivering an abundance of folate, vitamin C and potassium. In a very recent study from researchers at Ohio State University and published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, tomatoes were found to be instrumental in increasing the variety of gut microbes and altering gut bacteria to a more favourable profile. The study took place over the course of two weeks’ worth of heavy tomato consumption by pigs.
The ultimate goal, according to researchers, is to continue the study as applied to humans, with the expectation that tomato consumption will have the same positive effect on gut health and the gastrointestinal tract. Replacing less healthy food with tomatoes and other unprocessed foods can play a big part in keeping a stable gut environment, in turn positioning one in a healthier state.
Tim Rigby, Mkurugenzi wa Usalama wa Chakula, anasema kuwa moja ya mwelekeo wa hivi karibuni katika lishe ni msisitizo wa tumbo lenye afya. Miongo michache iliyopita, haukuwahi kuona probiotics masoko ya wingi na inapatikana kwa wingi; hata hivyo, utafiti wa hivi karibuni umesababisha uelewa bora wa jinsi hali ya matumbo yako inaweza kuwa na athari kubwa kwa afya yako ya jumla. Ingiza nyanya. Kwa kweli, ni muhimu sana kwa afya na afya ya binadamu, hasa kwa sababu ya kuandaa kiasi kikubwa cha folate, vitamini C na potasiamu. Katika utafiti wa hivi karibuni uliofanywa na watafiti wa Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la Ohio na kuchapishwa katika jarida la Microbiology Spectrum, nyanya ziligunduliwa kuwa muhimu katika kuongeza aina ya vijidudu vya matumbo na kubadilisha bakteria za matumbo kuwa na wasifu mzuri zaidi. Utafiti huo ulifanyika kwa muda wa wiki mbili - thamani ya ulaji mkubwa wa nyanya na nguruwe. Lengo la mwisho, kulingana na watafiti, ni kuendelea na utafiti kama unavyotumika kwa wanadamu, na matarajio ya kwamba matumizi ya nyanya itakuwa na athari sawa nzuri kwa afya ya matumbo na mfumo wa tumbo. Kuchukua nafasi ya chakula kisicho na afya na nyanya na vyakula vingine visivyofanyiwa kazi inaweza kuwa na jukumu kubwa katika kudumisha mazingira ya utumbo thabiti, na kwa upande mwingine kuweka moja katika hali ya afya.