The myBioma microbiome analysis team of experts will enlighten you!

We not only drink Kombucha with passion, we are also interested in all important topics related to intestinal health and everything that goes with it. It was therefore obvious to exchange ideas with the experts from myBioma and to test their myBioma microbiome analysis. Above all, of course, we are interested in how our kombucha has affected our intestines . More on that after the interview!

Who is behind myBioma and how did you come up with the idea of ​​developing a microbiome analysis?

myBioma was created in 2018 by Dr. Barbara Sladek and Dr. medical Univ. Nikolaus Gasche founded. Our founding team has a relevant background in molecular biology and medicine. Barbara Sladek holds a doctorate in biochemistry (Oxford, UK) and a degree in molecular biology (University of Vienna). Nikolaus Gasche is a doctor and serial entrepreneur.

Barbara and Nikolaus had their first conversations about the importance of the intestinal microbiome far away from Vienna – in Ghana. Barbara was there as a traveller, Nikolaus as a trainee. Three years and many discussions later, they implemented their plan and founded the biotech start-up myBioma with a focus on next-DNA-generation sequencing, a scientific and IT-heavy process.

The goal is to emphasize the importance of the gut microbiome and to establish an analysis of gut health as a routine measure .

What is meant by the term microbiome?

The microbiome is the collection of the trillions of microorganisms that live in and on our bodies . It consists mainly of bacteria, but also contains fungi, viruses and primordial bacteria. In total, over 30 trillion bacteria from over 1000 types of bacteria live in us - that's more bacteria than we have in our own body cells .

It is fascinating what influence the microbiome has on our overall health: In addition to typical digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, flatulence or bloated stomach, complaints with calorie utilization, skin, cardiovascular system, insulin balance or our psyche can also have their cause here. Our microbiome communicates directly with our brain and thus influences our behavior. It is all the more important to pay attention to the health of your own microbiome!

The myBioma founding team, Dr. medical Univ. Nikolaus Gasche and Dr. Barbara Sladek

What is the difference between myBioma and a conventional stool sample taken by a doctor?

What is often asked is why the analysis at the family doctor is cheaper and much faster. That's true, of course, but the doctor's analysis is carried out on the basis of stool cultures. Such cultures are one of the oldest analytical methods (since 200 years) and are inaccurate in the quantitative detection of different bacteria. In addition, an analysis using stool culture only recognizes an average of 10 different bacterial species, whereas the myBioma method (Next Generation Sequencing) can recognize over 1000 different bacterial species. Due to the complexity of Next Generation Sequencing, the analysis is very expensive. However, you get a completely different result. You not only find out which bacteria live in your own intestines, but also what they are responsible for. The whole thing is clearly prepared in an individual microbiome report including suggestions for improvement. We have also developed our own app, in which the result can also be called up.

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 website: www.mybioma.com directly to your home , which also makes removing the stool easier. The sample can therefore be taken in the familiar toilet and sent back to us with a pre-paid return envelope. The kit contains precise instructions and help for removing the stool. After that, the sample only has to be activated either on our homepage or app. We always give status updates on where the sample is at the moment. When we receive the sample, we pass it on directly to our partner laboratory, which is located in Vienna General Hospital. We also work together with the Medical University of Vienna. Here the stool is sequenced, which can take up to 6 weeks. We then receive a huge data set, which our bioinformaticians prepare in a clear manner so that you receive a health report on your own microbiome . You can also take a look at our sample report here.

What tips do you give your testers with an unbalanced microbiome?

First of all: We do not recommend probiotics, medicines or other miracle pills. With the right foods and lifestyle, we can feed the right bacteria and multiply them so they can go back to work for us. Generally speaking, a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on our microbiome. At myBioma we summarize five pillars of a healthy intestinal microbiome: First and foremost - nutrition. Not only the quality of our food counts, but above all how we eat. Hasty eating can stress our intestines - which brings us to the second point: Stress is one of the number one causes of illness in our society and our microbiome is also negatively influenced by it. Another important aspect is regular exercise , which activates our intestines and is best done in the fresh air. Sufficient sleep is also good for our microbiome. Finally, toxins such as alcohol, nicotine and medication should be mentioned, which should be avoided as far as possible. In the microbiome report, everyone receives scientifically based nutritional suggestions that are easy to integrate into everyday life. In order to strengthen the gut-brain axis, for example, it is important to include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of brain-related diseases and promote beneficial 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 organic cold-pressed olive oil.

Which diet can support the microbiome?

A diverse and varied diet consisting mainly of vegetables and fruit is the best choice to feed our good intestinal bacteria. Proper nutrition lays the foundation for a healthy microbiome. It is also important to integrate sufficient prebiotics and probiotics from natural sources .

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that are helpful by specifically stimulating the growth of good intestinal bacteria. Examples of prebiotic foods are onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, asparagus, beans, bananas, chicory, artichokes, dandelions, apples, flaxseed or cabbage.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are added to various foods. They have health-promoting effects and are contained, for example, in natural yoghurt (without sugar!), sauerkraut or kombucha .

What do you think about fermented foods, such as kombucha, can they improve gut health?

Fermented foods such as kombucha contain different strains of bacteria that can support the regeneration of the intestine. It has also been shown, for example, that such bacteria alter brain activity related to stress and emotion regulation, leading to an improvement in antioxidant status. This in turn influences the insulin balance. So we think fermented foods are awesome and 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 intestine?

Of course, we always recommend contacting a doctor in the event of serious problems. Nevertheless, it can be useful to take a look at the microbiome if you have 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 leading from the brain to the entire body. This means that the gut is in constant exchange of information with the brain. The nervous system of the intestine uses the same neurotransmitters (transmitters of information between cells) as the brain and neurotransmitters play an important part in mental illnesses such as depression. The metabolism of the bacteria in the digestive tract can disturb the balance of brain messengers such as noradrenaline, dopamine or serotonin and thus affect the state of mind.

We have also dedicated our report to this topic, 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. Interesting questions about various eating habits and complaints etc. are asked in advance.

After sending the sample, I eagerly awaited my result and was regularly updated on the latest status of the sample.

My personal microbiome report was also above average. The microbial composition, nutrition and food conversion and health were excellent. In addition, the composition of the bacteria is listed in detail. My biodiversity and probiotic bacteria are also above average.

I am very fortunate that a balanced diet combined with kombucha seems to ensure a healthy gut microbiome for me. The app also offers important tips for working against a wide variety of complaints and really takes the user by the hand in detail. Here are a few excerpts from my personal test. However, this is really only a very small part of the complex analysis.

By the way, with the code KOMBUCHERY10 you get a 10% discount on the myBioma microbiome analysis!

Danke für's Lesen!

Thank you for reading! You can find more of my articles from A, like Non-Alcoholic Kombucha Cocktails, to Z, like Lemon-Ginger Kombucha, on our KOMBUCHERY Blog. Let's learn more about kombucha together!
Merle by Kombuchery