The human body is home to 10 times more microbes than cells, and scientists have been slow in understanding how these little creatures affect our health. Now we know that each person has their own set of microbes that’s unique to them, sort of like a fingerprint

The ‘microbiome’ refers the large interconnection of microbes living throughout your body, but largely on your skin and in your gut. Your relationship with your microbes is symbiotic, meaning different species that support one another. You provide a home for microbe species, and they take part in chores like digestion, regulating immune function and most bodily processes. Certain microbes are disruptive to our bodily processes however, and can become unfavorable in large quantities. Hence, your microbial composition has significant effects on how you feel, look and behave.

Establishing a healthy microbiome

The microbial composition is passed from the mother to the infant during birth and breastfeeding. A healthy microbiome supports the infant in developing a strong immune system. Beyond infancy, diet becomes the best way to influence the gut microbiome.

Many environmental factors alter the gut microbiome, including antibiotics, food additives, and pesticides. Stress is a another important factor in gut health, altering the gut-brain axis that’s associated with hormonal and the nervous system regulation. Hence, changes in the gut microbiome can affect brain function and mood. Health problems are often rooted in subclinical pathogenic infections (bacteria, parasites, viruses, yeasts and molds) that can often occur in the gut when the ideal microbial compositions are off.