Faecal transplants can restore balance to the gut and underpin health and the ability to digest and absorb food
HEALING THE GUT 2. FAECAL TRANSPLANTS
The health of the gut directly determines the vitality and wellbeing of many aspects of health and controls key systems within the body, such as the immune system. It’s also now known to have a direct impact on the brain and mood. Modern life is hard on gut fl ora –
antibiotics and other medication and refi ned food upsets the delicate balance. Once the gut fl ora is damaged, chronic and acute health conditions can develop,
such as candida, IBS, C diff and a range of other highly debilitating disorders. All these conditions have been suc-
cessfully treated with faecal transplants – taking faecal matter rich in gut bacteria from a healthy person and – through an approved medical process – insert- ing them into the gut of the patient, where they immediately colonise. There’s evidence that the nature of gut bacteria directly determines the way we
metabolise food: when the gut bacteria of an obese person is transplanted into someone of normal weight, in some cases they, in turn, become obese. We predict that a trade in premium gut
bacteria will emerge, with individuals who can show the high quality of their biome being paid for samples, and spas off ering customised faecal transplants that give specifi c outcomes to guests in terms of the impact the transplant has on their health.
CRUISE SHIP HOT SPOT 3. PANAMA
In 2016 a new lane will open at the Panama Canal, doubling the capacity of the route that links the Pacifi c and Atlantic Oceans and eff ectively creating a cruise line super highway. The canal, a visitor attraction in its own right, will soon be able to host the world’s largest cruise ships, which disembark 5,000
passengers at a time. Notably, cruise liners are also gaining 6.55 per cent more customers annually. As the canal forms the foundation of Panama’s economy, it’s predicted that GDP will double in the next eight years. All of these signs are good news for existing and upcoming spa operators in the country.
BUSINESS DISRUPTION 4. MASSAGE-ON-DEMAND
From Zeel and Soothe in the US, to Vaniday in Brazil and Urban Massage in the UK – massage-on-demand businesses are cropping up all over the place and are set to shake up the sector (see p70). They enable customers to book same-day appoint- ments – sometimes even
within the hour – with mobile therapists in the area. These new market entrants could whet consumer appetites for spas, but they could also take away custom, not least because they off er an online community and convenience – two things which the major- ity of spas are lacking.
©cybertrek 2015
spabusiness.com issue 3 2015 37
PETER BERNIK/
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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