Beyond being a festive and holiday season, Christmas also
has an environmental factor, both physically and mentally. Studies have shown that the Christmas season
has brought with it changes in the gut microbiota.
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam in 2019 conducted
a prospective observational study on 28 healthy volunteers celebrating
Christmas. Using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing, faecal samples were collected
between 23rd and 27th December.
In the study, researchers found the changes in the faecal microorganisms in the study subjects over Christmas, particularly those subjects visiting their in-laws. There was a significant change in the Ruminococcus species of organisms. Decrease in Ruminococcus species is linked to increased perceptions of stress. There was also a reduction in microbial diversity in both groups, those who spent Christmas with their family and those who spent Christmas with the in-laws. Reduction in microbial diversity is associated with increased psychological stress.
The mechanism in which in-laws affect the change in
microbiome is still not fully understood.
However, microbiome changes is related to psychological stress and
depression, metabolic syndrome and obesity as well as inflammatory bowel
disease.
However, changing your perceptions of the festive season
could change the microbiome. If you are
feeling the stress of the season because of relatives, think about the people
who do not have family to spend Christmas with.
Be grateful for what you have. Perhaps
also, consider changing your focus: What
are your wins this year (health, career, family, relationships, friends,
community)? What are you truly grateful
for? What is definitely worth celebrating
this year end?
When you focus on the positives, you produce different
chemical messengers in the body, you also grow different microbiome. You are calmer, make better choices, make
kinder remarks and the whole experience could turn out quite different.
