- Living with friends or a partner may subtly alter an individual's gut bacteria, according to scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
- Daily interactions such as hugging, kissing, and sharing food preparation spaces are believed to encourage the exchange of gut microbes.
- A study on Seychelles warblers, small island birds, provided clear evidence that social closeness, not just a shared environment, drives the exchange of gut bacteria.
- The research found that birds spending significant time together, like breeding pairs, shared more anaerobic gut bacteria, which can only spread through direct, close contact.
- This sharing of beneficial anaerobic bacteria among household members could potentially strengthen immunity and improve digestive health.
IN FULL
