Judging by the title for our session in June 2026, you may think this an odd combination of topics. But please read on and all will be revealed.
Firstly we looked at what a microbiome is - a community of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, which inhabit a specific environment. So it follows that the gut microbiome inhabits our gut.
Tim Spector, Professor of Epidemiology at Kings College London, science writer, co-founder of the ZOE program and one of the world's top 100 most-cited scientists explains...
‘…our bodies contain 100 trillion of them [microorganisms], as many as all the cells in our body, and weighing over four pounds in our guts alone – where most of them live.’
Evidence is mounting around the gut microbiome’s significance to health, along with a growth in public interest as to how the gut microbiome can be adapted by dietary choices.
In our session we understood that the key functions of the gut microbiome include...
- Defence
- Nutrition
- Behaviour
...and that current research confirms an undoubted link between a healthy gut microbiome and gut health. Yet evidence seems to show there is no one version of a healthy gut microbiome. So it pays to be mindful when buying food products claiming to support gut health, given the lack of consensus around what constitutes a healthy gut.
This 11 minute YouTube video from Tim Spector, entitled 'The 5 things you NEED to know for better GUT HEALTH', is well worth a watch.
We had a short discussion about probiotics and prebiotics, moving on to understanding why fermented foods are beneficial to our gut health. The first half of the session ended with fermented food tastings of kefir, kimchi and kombucha and last but not least a super chocolate and sauerkraut cake baked by Pat. Sue also brought along a book of fermented food recipes, which encouraged us to consider fermenting our own food at home.
After tea and coffee the topic was swiftly changed to LAUGHTER.
Research shows laughter can have important benefits for our physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connections.
Although it’s a sign of having a fine old time, a good laugh is one of the most complicated things our bodies produce.
There is no scientific consensus on what makes us laugh but it is thought the frontal lobe at the very front of the brain, which determines our emotional responses, plays a part, along with the limbic system. The frontal lobe cannot start our laughter off though. That’s up to the limbic system.
The limbic system handles basic emotions such as fear, anger and pleasure, and once it gets the message from the frontal lobe that we need to laugh at something, it sends another message out which sets the physical process of laughter in motion.
Why Is Laughter Good for Us?
Laughter provides several benefits.
Physical Benefits
When we laugh
We take in more oxygen (normal between 95% - 100%)
Our heart and lungs become more active
Our immune system improves
When we laugh, our immune system is strengthened. It increases our production of antibodies and cells which fight off disease.
Stress hormones can be reduced
Muscles relax after laughing –
It causes 15 facial muscles to contract
You will also use muscles in your arms, legs and torso.
Be warned though - the contraction of muscles in the abdomen when you’re chortling can have an unexpected effect on the bladder.
Even lose weight –
One study found that 10 to 15 minutes of laughter can burn up to 10 to 40 additional calories each day.
Some people even describe laughter as "internal exercise."
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Laughter can
Improve mood.
Help us cope with stress.
Reduce feelings of anxiety.
Encourage a more positive outlook.
Many of us have experienced how laughter can make a difficult situation feel easier to manage
Social Benefits
Laughter is often shared with others. It helps
Build friendships
Strengthen relationships
Create feelings of trust and belonging
Bring people together
In fact, we are much more likely to laugh when we are with other people than when we are alone.
Do We Laugh Less as We Get Older?
Studies suggest that young children laugh much more frequently than adults. Young children laugh around 300–400 times per day, compared with roughly 15–20 times per day for adult.
The amount we laugh may depend more on our lifestyle, relationships, and opportunities for enjoyment than on our age alone.