Health briefs: Good bacteria

You are what you eat -- especially when it comes to the microbes that live in your gut. New research shows that people who eat a diet high in fats and animal proteins have a certain group of bacteria that flourish in their digestive tract, while the guts of people who eat a more plant-based, higher carbohydrate fare favor other microbes. There's increasing evidence that the "microbiota" that live in the human gut may play an important role in health, including possibly contributing to obesity and other ailments, researchers said. The findings are in the Sept. 1 issue of Science.

Spud delights

French fries and potato chips may have given potatoes a bad rap, but new research finds the lowly tuber, when cooked correctly, may actually be good for the heart. A small, pilot study suggests a couple of servings of potatoes per day may lower blood pressure as much as oatmeal without causing weight gain, according to researchers at the University of Scranton. Purple potatoes, in particular, have high amounts of antioxidants, although other potatoes may have similar effects.

-- HealthDay