Yogurt and hot spring bathing show a promising combination for gut health

Researchers at Kyushu University have demonstrated that yogurt intake increases diversity in the gut microbiota and alters its composition. Furthermore, it was found that bathing in a chloride hot spring after ingestion of yogurt improves defecation status more than yogurt alone.

These findings suggest that the two are combined Lifestyle intervention– Yogurt intake and hot spring bathing – Contributes to improving health and highlights the potential applications of preventive medicines.

This study was published in the journal Nutrition frontier.

Maintaining a healthy intestinal environment is essential for overall health as it plays an important role in regulating digestion, immune responses, and even neurological functions. yogurt Lactic acid bacteria And bifidobacteria are known to regulate Intestinal microbiota It offers a variety of health benefits.

In this context, researchers at Kyoto University focused on Japanese language hot springAlso known as Onsen. “We previously reported the beneficial effects of hot spring bathing on the gut microbiota. However, Professor Shunsuke Mangisi of Kyushu University’s Urban Research Institute, who led the study, said:

“Therefore, we worked with Beptit, Kyushu, a region famous for its hot spring bathing, to investigate the effectiveness of hot spring bathing after yogurt consumption.”

This study enrolled 47 healthy adult men and women who were not in the hot springs within 14 days prior to the start of the trial. Participants were then randomly assigned to one of three groups. Control GroupYogurt Group and Yogurt Plus Hot Springs Group.

Although the control group received no intervention, the yogurt group consumed 180 g of low-sugar yogurt containing Lactobacillus bulgalicus and Streptococcus linsema every day after dinner. In addition to this, Yogurt Plus’s hot spring group soaked Beppu chloride for more than 15 minutes in spring, at least once every two days.

Intestinal microbiota surveys were used before and after the 4-week intervention period Fecal samplesand a questionnaire on defecation status, including 14 items including stool frequency assessment, stool consistency, incomplete sense of evacuation, and laxative use, were administered.

The results revealed a significant increase in gut microbiota diversity in the yogurt group, accompanied by changes in the relative abundance of multiple bacterial species.

Notably, no changes in these microbial organisms were observed in either the control group or the yogurt plus temperature group. However, both the yogurt group and the yogurt plus hot spring groups showed significant improvements in bowel status scores, with the latter showing more pronounced effects.

These findings suggest that yogurt intake may increase gut microbial diversity and that its combination with hot springs may exert additional or synergistic effects to improve defecation status.

“Although the sample size is small, our findings suggest that two accessible lifestyle interventions are combined.yogurt Intake and hot springs bathing– It can provide improved health benefits, especially by promoting diversity in the gut microbiome and improving bowel movements in healthy adults,” explains Managi.

“These results are particularly relevant given the growing interest in non-pharmaceutical, lifestyle-based strategies for preventive health and wellness. Furthermore, this study may support the development of evidence-based wellness tourism, particularly in areas known for its hot springs, by providing scientific validation for health-oriented travel and services.”