The expert team from myBioma microbiome analysis will inform you!
Not only do we passionately drink kombucha, but we are also interested in all important topics related to gut health and everything that goes with it. That's why it made sense to get in touch with the experts from myBioma and test their myBioma microbiome analysis. Above all, we are naturally interested in how our kombucha has affected our gut. More on this after the interview!
Who is behind myBioma and how did you come up with the idea of developing a microbiome analysis?
myBioma was founded in 2018 by Dr. Barbara Sladek and Dr. med. univ. Nikolaus Gasche. Our founding team has a relevant background in molecular biology and medicine. Barbara Sladek holds a PhD in biochemistry (Oxford, UK) and is a qualified molecular biologist (University of Vienna). Nikolaus Gasche is a medical doctor and serial entrepreneur.
The first discussions about the importance of the gut microbiome took place far from Vienna – in Ghana. Barbara was there as a traveler, Nikolaus as a medical intern. Three years and many discussions later, they put their plan into action and founded the biotech start-up myBioma with a focus on "Next-DNA-Generation Sequencing", a scientific and IT-intensive process.
The goal is to highlight the importance of the gut microbiome and to establish a gut health analysis as a routine measure.
What is meant by the term microbiome?
The microbiome is the collection of trillions of microorganisms that live in and on our bodies. It consists mainly of bacteria, but also contains fungi, viruses, and archaea. In total, over 30 trillion bacteria from over 1000 bacterial species live in us – that's more bacteria than we have cells of our own body.
It is fascinating what influence the microbiome has on our overall health: In addition to typical digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or a distended abdomen, complaints related to calorie utilization, skin, cardiovascular system, insulin balance, or even our psyche can also have their origin here. Our microbiome communicates directly with our brain and thus also influences our behavior. It is all the more important to pay attention to the health of one's own microbiome!
The myBioma founding team, Dr. med. univ. Nikolaus Gasche and Dr. Barbara Sladek
What distinguishes myBioma from a conventional stool sample at the doctor's office?
A frequently asked question is why the analysis at the family doctor is cheaper and much faster. That's true, of course, but the analysis at the doctor is performed based on stool cultures. Such cultures are one of the oldest analysis methods (for 200 years) and are inaccurate in the quantitative detection of different bacteria. Furthermore, an analysis using stool culture typically identifies only 10 different bacterial species, whereas the myBioma method (Next Generation Sequencing) can identify over 1000 different bacterial species. Due to the complexity of Next Generation Sequencing, the analysis is very costly. However, it also provides a completely different result. One learns not only which bacteria live in one's own gut, but also what they are responsible for. All of this is clearly presented in an individualized microbiome report, including suggestions for improvement. We have also developed our own app, where the results can also be accessed.
How exactly does the myBioma microbiome analysis work?
We have tried to make the process as simple as possible. The kit can be ordered online on our homepage: www.mybioma.com directly to your home, which also makes stool collection more convenient. The sample can therefore be taken on your familiar toilet and sent back to us with a pre-franked return envelope. Detailed instructions, as well as assistance for stool collection, are included in the kit. After that, the sample only needs to be activated either on our homepage or app. We always provide status updates on where the sample currently is. Once the sample arrives at our facility, we forward it directly to our partner laboratory, which is located at AKH Vienna. We also collaborate with the Medical University of Vienna. Here, the stool is sequenced, which can take up to 6 weeks. Subsequently, we receive a huge dataset, which our bioinformaticians prepare clearly, so that you receive a health report of your own microbiome. You are also welcome to view our sample report here.
What tips do you give your testers for an imbalanced microbiome?
First of all: We do not recommend probiotics, medication or any other miracle pills. With the right foods and lifestyle, we can feed and multiply the right bacteria so that they work for us again. Generally speaking, a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on our microbiome. At myBioma, we summarize five pillars of a healthy gut microbiome: First and foremost – diet. It's not just the quality of our food that counts, but especially how we eat. Hasty eating can stress our gut – which brings us to the second point: Stress is one of the No. 1 causes of illness in our society and our microbiome is also negatively affected by it. Another important aspect is regular exercise, which activates our gut and preferably outdoors. Sufficient sleep also does our microbiome good. Finally, toxins such as alcohol, nicotine, and medication should be mentioned, which should largely be avoided. In the microbiome report, everyone receives scientifically based dietary suggestions tailored to their results, which are easy to integrate into everyday life. For example, to strengthen the gut-brain axis, it is important to include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet plan. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of brain-related diseases and promote positive gut bacteria. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish, such as trout, salmon and sardines, avocado, spinach, nuts and seeds, and also in cold-pressed organic olive oil.
What kind of diet can support the microbiome?
A diverse and varied diet consisting of predominantly vegetables & fruit is the best choice to feed our good gut bacteria. The right diet lays the foundation for a healthy microbiome. It is also important to integrate sufficient prebiotics and probiotics from natural sources.
Prebiotics are indigestible food components that are helpful by specifically stimulating the growth of good gut bacteria. Prebiotic foods include, for example, onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, asparagus, beans, bananas, chicory, artichokes, dandelions, apples, flaxseeds, or cabbage vegetables.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are added to various foods. They have health-promoting effects and are found, for example, in natural yogurt (unsweetened!), sauerkraut, or even kombucha.
What do you think about fermented foods, such as kombucha, can it improve gut health?
Fermented foods like kombucha contain different bacterial strains that can support gut regeneration. For example, it has also been proven that such bacteria change brain activity in relation to stress and emotional regulation and thus lead to an improvement in antioxidant status. This in turn influences the balance of insulin levels. We therefore find fermented foods brilliant and also recommend them in our report for various ailments.
Would you also recommend a microbiome analysis for psychological problems to rule out a possible imbalance in the gut?
Of course, for serious problems, we always recommend contacting a doctor. Nevertheless, it can be useful to take a look at the microbiome for mental problems. The gut is home to over 100 million nerve cells that lead to the brain. That's even more nerve cells than all those that lead from the brain to the entire body. This means that the gut is in constant communication with the brain. The nervous system of the gut uses the same neurotransmitters (information carriers between cells) as the brain, and neurotransmitters play an important role in psychological illnesses, such as depression. The metabolism of bacteria in the digestive tract can disturb the balance of brain neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin and thus influence mood.
We have also dedicated ourselves to this topic in our report, so that you can learn more about your own gut-brain axis with myBioma.
My experiences with the myBioma microbiome analysis!
I actually had the pleasure of testing the myBioma microbiome analysis myself. The test in combination with the very well-structured app was really interesting. Because interesting questions about various eating habits and complaints etc. are already asked in advance.
After sending in the sample, I eagerly awaited my results and was regularly informed about the latest status of the sample.
My personal microbiome report turned out to be above average. The microbial composition, nutrition and nutrient utilization, and health were excellent. In addition, the composition of the bacteria is listed in detail. My species diversity and probiotic bacteria were also above average.
I am very happy that for me, a balanced diet in combination with kombucha seems to ensure a healthy gut microbiome. The app also offers important tips to work against various complaints and really guides the user in detail. Here are a few excerpts from my personal test. However, this is only a very small part of the complex analysis.
With the code KOMBUCHERY10, you will receive a 10% discount on the myBioma microbiome analysis!
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