Meditation and the gut microbiome, My gut feeling...

 In an all too often shared and touted article on the effects on meditation and the gut microbiome in Tibetan monks vs others living near them. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-17/in-tibetan-monk-study-hints-that-meditating-can-alter-gut-microbes#:~:text=Tibetan%20Buddhist%20monks%20appear%20to,according%20to%20the%20study%20authors. We can easily see it as a real 'win' for those practicing meditation but...

There are a few glaring problems.

In the study https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/36/1/e100893, or https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9896348/, they basically state they that long-term meditation may regulate gut microbiota homeostasis and, in turn, affect physical and mental health.

Here is the first problem. It is well known that China has a big problem with Tibet ( so much that the country has now lost its name... The Tibetan Autonomous Region, no longer regognized as a 'state'), and would very unlikely promote anything in the Tibetan culture (especially Buddhism) via their policies. Note that the authors are all from Shanghai, China. I find it curious that it has been published as such and shared as much. (just thinking a theory out loud here)...

Secondly, there is a good back end (no pun intended) study of the stool samples and the contents of the monks vs the general population. However, it is also well known and understood that monks in a temple have a significantly different diet than the people living around the temple. Monks do rely on donations and supplies from the locals, but the locals have a different set of rules as to what they can and do eat as compared to monks. Often (not much in Tibet as I understand), monks are vegan, or at least vegetarian, or at least mostly, as meat is rather expensive. As well as most 'comfort foods, "fast foods" and more processed items.

The microbiome is determined by a few factors; (Hhere is a link to a video about that https://youtu.be/5DTrENdWvvM)

1- your genetics (you do share some biome with others in your family,

2- close proximity sharing of biome, your biome changes when in close proximity to others over time, and

3- what you put in your body. Your food, fluid and bowel practices make a difference. This is the 'seeding' and upkeep of the biome as we have it.

None of those things were at all addressed in any of the articles (including original studies).

Now my disclaimer on that. Of course over time your levels of stress chemicals (cortisol, norepinephrine, etc ( and more normal and 'desired' chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin) WILL change with prolonged practice, repetition and study of mindfulness, meditation, and the Buddhadharma. I would also admit that the dietary choices of locals vs monks can be at issue. Much more fermented items may be consumed by monks (pickles, things like kimchee, cheeses and other such foods). I would love to see a breakdown of the diets of monks over time as well as a comparison of those in the local areas to see similarities and differences. Then when a stool sample is taken we can at least separate those data.