INvestigating the role of Functional foOds and beveRages to iMprove health and recovery (INFORM)

数以万亿计的细菌栖息在人类的胃肠道（肠道）中。它们在我们体内生长，并产生一系列影响我们健康的最终产品。我们的饮食会影响这些微生物群落，这意味着我们可以通过饮食改变这些居民，从而对健康产生影响。这个研究中心将研究针对肠道微生物的功能性食品，以及它们如何支持从运动、精神压力和疾病中恢复过来。该中心的名称是INFORM“功能性食品和饮料对改善健康和恢复的作用的调查（INFORM）”，主要关注的食品将包括：益生元：支持我们体内已经存在的阳性微生物的生长和活动的食品，最终导致有益的健康影响；益生菌：摄入足够多对健康有积极影响的微生物；植物甾醇：主要与降低血液胆固醇有关，它们最近被观察到对肠道微生物群的影响。运动给我们的健康和幸福带来了一系列好处，但也会对胃肠道产生负面影响，也会对免疫系统产生有害影响。肠道细菌与免疫系统密切联系，因此，通过影响肠道微生物，肠道问题和增加的免疫炎症状况可能会减少。此外，调节肠道微生物群落可以减少感染。我们在日常生活中遇到的心理压力，从考试到工作压力，都会对我们的认知健康造成损害。肠道微生物群也被认为与大脑有双向沟通途径。从参与神经活性分子的产生，到支持血脑和上皮屏障，微生物群辅助免疫系统，同时影响大脑。因此，适当的功能性食品也可以促进心理健康。肠道菌群与免疫功能的沟通也意味着它可以帮助从各种疾病中恢复。这些可能包括上肠道感染和胃肠道疾病。因此，在健康人群中使用的功能性食品可以支持在整个生命过程中保持良好的健康和幸福。该研究中心将汇集肠道微生物群、心理健康、运动和锻炼、骨骼健康、代谢和临床条件方面的专家。还有食品、医疗和体育行业的成员。因此，将采用多学科方法来解决这些问题，产生想法和研究解决方案，以推进这一重要研究。该中心将运行5年，并将向新成员开放。它将根据行业趋势、研究能力的进步、政府政策和监管框架，在其职权范围内动态发展。因此，将相关功能食品推向研究和保健的前沿是必不可少的途径。

Trillions of bacteria inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract (gut). They grow within us and produce a range of end products that can impact on our health. The diet we consume influences this microbial community and this means we can alter these inhabitants through diet, thereby having an influence on health. This research hub, will look at functional foods targeting gut microbes and how they can support recovery from exercise, mental stresses and improve recovery from illness. The hub name is INFORM "INvestigating the role of Functional foOd and beveRages to iMprove health and recovery (INFORM)"The foods that will primarily be focused on will include: Prebiotics: foods to support the growth and activities of positive microorganisms already existing within us, ultimately leading to beneficial health effects; Probiotics: microorganisms that when consumed in high enough quantities have a positive effect on health; Plant stanols: mainly associated with lowering blood cholesterol, they have recently been observed to impact on the gut microbiota. Exercise gives rise to a range of benefits to our health and well-being, but can also lead to negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract and also lead to detrimental effects on the immune system. Gut bacteria work in close communication with the immune system, therefore, by influencing gut microbes, gut issues and an increased immune inflammatory conditions might be reduced. Furthermore, modulation of the gut microbial community can reduce infections. Mental stresses that we encounter in every day lives, from exams, to work pressures, can take their toll on our cognitive well-being. The gut microbiota has also been seen to be linked to the brain in a two way communication pathway. From being involved in the production of neuro-active molecules, to supporting the blood brain and epithelial barriers, the microbiota aids the immune system and concurrently impacts on the brain. As such, appropriate functional foods could also support mental well-being.Communication of the gut microbiota with the immune function also means it can aid in recovery from various illnesses. These may include upper gut infections and gastrointestinal conditions. Therefore, functional foods used within a healthy population could support the maintenance of good health and well-being across the lifecourse.The research hub will bring together experts in gut microbiota, mental health, sports and exercise, bone health, metabolism and clinical conditions. Along with members of the food, healthcare and sport industries. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach will be used to address these issues, generate ideas and researching solutions to push forward this important research. The hub will run for 5 years and will be open for new members. It will be dynamic in its remit and evolve, adopting industry trends, advances in research capabilities, government policy and regulatory frameworks. As such it is an essential route to bring relevant functional foods to the forefront of research and health maintenance.