The way to good health is through the gut

The gut is more important to good health than most people realize. In fact, scientists now believe “gut dysbiosis” (a lack of beneficial bacteria) plays a role in ailments as varied as obesity, autoimmune conditions, like eczema, and even cardiovascular disease. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s Gail Cresci, PhD, diet and medications can harm the good bacteria in your gut, leading to chronic illness. On April 18, Dr. Cresci will deliver a talk entitled, “The Gut Microbiome and Health: How Tending to the Health of Your Gut Microbiota Improves Overall Health” at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) in which she will explore how the foods you eat can alter your gut microbiome. She will then present research that will teach you how to mitigate these negative effects and restore your microbes – and yourself – to health.

“The gut microbiome is comprised of trillions of microbes,” Dr. Cresci said. “Research shows that gut microbes and their fermentation byproducts keep us healthy. However, many factors can impact the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolic byproducts -- these alterations are associated with many chronic diseases. Diet and medications, like antibiotics, negatively affect the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota.”

Dr.Cresci’s talk is the fifth installment of GCSOM’s popular Preventive Medicine Lecture series. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 18 at the School of Medicine at 525 Pine Street in Scranton. The talk begins at 5:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

For more information or to RSVP, visit geisinger.edu/aprilprevmed, call 570-504-9685 or email events@som.geisinger.edu.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.