Unnamed Woman

These people had difficulties which pushed them to the brink and ultimately went down that path in life. But it's because of the illegal fishing. I mean, you guys call them pirates, but a lot of people from our community don't view them as pirates. They're defending their land, their seas, their territory, their waters, what belongs to them. And they have a right to do so. This is our waters.

These people had difficulties which pushed them to the brink and ultimately went down that path in life. But it's because of the illegal fishing. I mean, you guys call them pirates, but a lot of people from our community don't view them as pirates. They're defending their land, their seas, their territory, their waters, what belongs to them. And they have a right to do so. This is our waters.

We are fishing here. And these guys come here and take our resources. And if it continues like this, I do believe piracy will return to this area.

We are fishing here. And these guys come here and take our resources. And if it continues like this, I do believe piracy will return to this area.

Only God knows what the future holds. But I hope my children get a good opportunity at education. I hope they become successful and educated. No one knows how these waters are going to become in the future.

Only God knows what the future holds. But I hope my children get a good opportunity at education. I hope they become successful and educated. No one knows how these waters are going to become in the future.

I focused on the gut microbiomes of these groups. So all participants handed in stool samples and we sequenced those samples and looked at the bacterial profiles. And this is a reflection of their gut microbiomes.

I focused on the gut microbiomes of these groups. So all participants handed in stool samples and we sequenced those samples and looked at the bacterial profiles. And this is a reflection of their gut microbiomes.

Exactly. So we're interested to see how environmental factors impact the microbiomes of these different groups that face all kinds of challenges with their migration. First, we found that there was a very strong link between dietary intake and the microbiome. So we observed that rural Canadians ate a lot less fat and protein and salt.

Exactly. So we're interested to see how environmental factors impact the microbiomes of these different groups that face all kinds of challenges with their migration. First, we found that there was a very strong link between dietary intake and the microbiome. So we observed that rural Canadians ate a lot less fat and protein and salt.

And they showed a very strong link with their microbiome composition. And we saw that there was a decrease in the diversity of the gut microbiomes in the Amsterdam Ghanaians. And specifically, there were bacteria that we could just not trace back in this Amsterdam group. So there was a lot less diversity.

And they showed a very strong link with their microbiome composition. And we saw that there was a decrease in the diversity of the gut microbiomes in the Amsterdam Ghanaians. And specifically, there were bacteria that we could just not trace back in this Amsterdam group. So there was a lot less diversity.

And diversity is usually something that we see as something healthy, as a healthy characteristic of the microbiome.

And diversity is usually something that we see as something healthy, as a healthy characteristic of the microbiome.

Yes, exactly. And that was another important conclusion in this study that we found with the loss of these specific microbes, that there was also an increase in cardiovascular disease and diabetes and obesity. So there seems to be a link between the two. So a loss of these microbes and an increase in cardiovascular risk.

Yes, exactly. And that was another important conclusion in this study that we found with the loss of these specific microbes, that there was also an increase in cardiovascular disease and diabetes and obesity. So there seems to be a link between the two. So a loss of these microbes and an increase in cardiovascular risk.

Which is also very important because it means that if we could change the dietary pattern back to a diet that has more diversity in fruits and in vegetables, that we can maybe shift the microbiome back to those of the rural Ghanaians and hopefully also lower the cardiovascular risk.

Which is also very important because it means that if we could change the dietary pattern back to a diet that has more diversity in fruits and in vegetables, that we can maybe shift the microbiome back to those of the rural Ghanaians and hopefully also lower the cardiovascular risk.

So that's absolutely right. I think if we can ensure that these people keep the same diversity in their fruit and vegetable intake specifically, then they will be much more likely to stay closer to their original microbiomes.

So that's absolutely right. I think if we can ensure that these people keep the same diversity in their fruit and vegetable intake specifically, then they will be much more likely to stay closer to their original microbiomes.