Scientists at Western New England University have found that eating grapes alters the human microbiome and potentially improves health. The results of the research were published in the journal scientific reports.
The human gut microbiome is made up of billions of microorganisms that affect people’s overall health and well-being. In a new eight-week human study, participants ate just over two cups of grapes a day.
The scientists analyzed the composition of the participants’ microbiome, as well as their urine and plasma metabolites. Changes were observed in the number of bacteria found and in the levels of the substances they produced.
According to the study’s authors, the gut microbiome interacts with all of our organs.
“We call it the gut-organ axis. Our study showed that grapes actively influence the gut microbiome, causing shifts in complex networks of interactions, thereby subtly altering the gut microbiome and the chemicals it produces.