Study shows heat can impact gut health and lead to bigger issues [Video]

SCOTTSDALE (AZFamily)—With Arizona’s summers being extreme, experts recommend listening to your gut.

“Keep your gut healthy, your whole body’s healthy,” Dr. Michael Hartman, vice president of research and development at Plexus Worldwide, said.

A recent study by the University of California, Irvine, shows the impact of repeated exposure to high temperatures on internal organs after studying mice. Dr. Hartman explained the study was conducted in a controlled environment at 85 degrees.

“The study helps us understand how heat stress affects the human body, and it all starts in the GI tract. Typically we think of high temperatures of 100 or 105, but really above 85, your body starts to change,” Dr. Hartman said.

“Within our gut, we have a microbiome which is full of bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites and the heat actually changes the balance in food bacteria and bad bacteria,” he explained. “Repeated exposure to high temperatures, they (study) saw an increase in the amount of bad bacteria …