Wine, Coffee and Tea May Promote Healthy Gut Flora

Amy Taylor May 11, 2016

Drinking wine, coffee and tea may not just be good for your heart as past studies have shown. These drinks can also be good for your gut! That’s the latest findings of the researchers from University of Groningen in Netherlands.

They found that drinking wine, coffee and tea may boost the level of good bacteria in the gut. According to the researchers, maintaining a good balance between the good and bad bacteria in the gut is important in maintaining good health. The research found that people who regularly consume yogurt or buttermilk also have a greater diversity of gut bacteria. However, whole milk and high-calorie diets can compromise this diversity.

The study tracked the diet, medicine prescriptions and health involved 1,100 people. The data also included DNA analysis which allowed the researchers to examine which factors impact the diversity of the microbiome.

’We have mapped all the bacterial DNA to gain much more detailed information about bacteria types.

’You see, for example, the effect of diet in the gut.’ said Professor of Human Genetics, Dr Cisca Wijmenga of the University of Groningen.

Apart from diet, the researchers also identified at least 19 different kinds of medicine - some of which are widely used - have an impact on microbiome diversity.

An earlier study showed antacids decreased this diversity, while antibiotics and the diabetes drug metformin also have an effect.

’What these mean exactly is still hard to say. But there is a good correlation between diversity and health: greater diversity is better’ said Dr Alexandra Zhernakova.

The study was published in the journal Science.