Check out Takumi’s NEW English youtube channel🎵
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https://www.youtube.com/@takuway
Today I went to a art museum!
I went to see this work.
It is by YURI TANAKA.
ERINA MATSUI's art was there too
Erina Matsui (@upaerina) / Posts / X
Around the time she graduated from university,
I met her with her mother, didn't I?
It was a splendid exhibition,
the kind that really speaks to people who are a bit more consciously inclined.
The Universe's Fashion Show
I love souvenir shops 〜 at art museums
Dr. Tanaka, thank you for the invitation.
I had lunch with a friend from Malaysia.
After that I went to Shibuya!
We had fun!
In the morning I had a meeting about my movie!
We talked about the cast and discussed about the audition.
We plan to make a space for the
Yakiimo short video team too
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Thank you everyone in Osaka! See you on the first!
Thank you ever so much to my Task Managers!
Today's crowdfunding saw the Oracle Cards sell out completely.
Sold out in a single day.
Your support, truly, thank you ever so much!
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We're going for our second challenge.
Thank you so much!
Gut bacteria thrive on plant-derived fiber.
They especially love plant-based proteins.
Dietary fiber—something humans cannot digest—becomes food for the gut bacteria living in the large intestine.
When humans provide this “food” (dietary fiber), gut bacteria return the favor by producing substances that are beneficial to human health.
A lack of dietary fiber is associated with:
increased mortality,
higher risk of heart disease,
increased cancer risk.
📺 Discovery! The Role of Butyrate-Producing Bacteria — A Crisis in the Japanese Gut
Latest Gut Microbiome Research
Prof. Yuji Naito, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (Part ②)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2wLN08yins
↓↓↓ Summary ↓↓↓
This video features Professor Yuji Naito of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, explaining the role of gut bacteria—especially butyrate-producing bacteria—based on longevity research conducted in Kyotango City, and issuing a warning about modern dietary patterns.
Below is a step-by-step summary following the structure of the lecture:
1. Observational Findings: Longevity in Kyotango City and Dietary Characteristics
The research team has conducted an in-depth longitudinal study over the past five years on elderly residents (aged 65 and above) in Kyotango City, known for exceptional longevity.
This included CT scans, blood tests, and dietary surveys.
What has emerged so far is a distinctive dietary pattern:
High intake of dietary fiber: Large consumption of plant-based fiber from beans and root vegetables [01:21]
Different protein sources:Low intake of beef and pork, with protein primarily obtained from fish and legumes [01:36]
2. Problem Statement: "The Gut Crisis" of Modern Japanese Society
In contrast to Kyotango, modern Japanese dietary habits present serious health risks:
Rapid decline in fiber intake
Japan has experienced an unusually rapid decrease in dietary fiber consumption, accompanied by increased intake of sweets and high-fat foods [02:21]Health risks:
Global data show strong correlations between fiber deficiency and higher mortality, increased cardiovascular disease, and cancer risk—raising concerns about the future of healthy longevity in Japan [02:03]
3. Mechanism: A Symbiotic Relationship with Gut Bacteria
The key to understanding why the Kyotango diet supports health lies in the gut microbiome.
Symbiosis (Give & Take)
Dietary fiber, which humans cannot digest, serves as nourishment for gut bacteria in the colon.In return, these bacteria produce compounds beneficial to human health [03:37]The role of butyrate-producing bacteria
Kyotango residents were found to have higher levels of bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid crucial for gut and overall health—believed to be one factor behind their longevity [04:39]
4. Paradigm Shift: Is Meat Essential for Muscle Maintenance?
Recent research challenges the long-held belief that muscle maintenance requires meat consumption.
Effectiveness of plant-derived amino acids: Amino acids necessary for preventing sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) do not need to come from animal sources. In fact, plant-based sources may be better suited to the Japanese gut microbiome [05:33]
Supporting evidence
Despite low meat consumption, elderly individuals in Kyotango maintain relatively high muscle mass.Similarly, populations in Papua New Guinea maintain strong musculature on diets centered around sweet potatoes—suggesting that gut bacteria may play a role in muscle preservation [06:02]
5. Global Evidence: Success Case in Bangladesh
The validity of the gut microbiome approach has been demonstrated in global health interventions:
Improvement in childhood growth failure
In Bangladesh, children suffering from growth stunting showed dramatic recovery when their diets were shifted—not to meat—but to foods such as beans and bananas, improving their gut microbiota.
This is considered one of the most significant achievements in recent gut microbiome research [07:31]
Conclusion:
Healthy longevity is not achieved simply by consuming nutrients.
It requires recognizing the gut bacteria living within us and feeding them appropriately.
By providing the right nourishment—dietary fiber—we enter into a cooperative relationship with our microbiome, one that plays a critical role in long-term health and vitality.
Short-chain fatty acids are a type of acid produced when gut bacteria break down (ferment) dietary fibre and other substances. They have garnered significant attention in recent years as **‘super substances essential for maintaining bodily health’**.
The main types include ‘butyric acid’, ‘acetic acid’, and ‘propionic acid’.
Their specific roles can be broadly categorised into the following four:
1. Serving as an energy source for the gut
Butyrate, in particular, is the primary energy source for the mucosal cells of the large intestine.
Boosting gut health: Activates large intestinal cells, facilitating smoother absorption of water and minerals.
Strengthening the barrier function: Fortifies the intestinal mucosa, preventing pathogenic bacteria and harmful substances from entering the body (prevention of leaky gut).
2. Maintaining a "slightly acidic" intestinal environment
Harmful bacteria struggle in acidic conditions. An increase in short-chain fatty acids maintains a slightly acidic gut environment, suppressing harmful bacteria proliferation and creating a favourable habitat for beneficial bacteria.
3. Systemic energy metabolism and obesity prevention
Short-chain fatty acids are absorbed from the gut, circulate throughout the body, and influence metabolism.
Inhibits fat accumulation: Acts on fat cells to suppress fat uptake.
Boosts metabolism: Believed to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, promoting energy expenditure.
Controls blood sugar levels: Assists insulin function and promotes the secretion of appetite-suppressing hormones.
4. Modulation of the Immune System
They help calm overactive immune cells (a cause of inflammation) and stimulate the production of antibodies that prevent viral invasion, also playing a role in suppressing allergies and preventing infections.
To summarise
Short-chain fatty acids do more than simply “benefit the gut”; they act as a command centre for whole-body health by **“strengthening the gut, creating a body less prone to weight gain, and regulating immunity”**.
The key to increasing them is actively consuming the raw materials – soluble dietary fibre (seaweed, barley, fruit, etc.) and fermented foods – thereby feeding the gut bacteria (especially the beneficial ones).
Link to Takumi Yamazaki’s
ENGLISH Book “SHIFT”
