In this fourth and final installment of Microbiome 101, we will look at a few foundational, practical steps you can take to foster a healthy microbiome.
Microbiome 101: How the human microbiome impacts health
A healthy gut is absolutely foundational for supporting the overall health of your body and mind. And you cannot have a healthy gut without a healthy microbiome. In thinking about how to approach part 3 of the Microbiome 101 series: how the human microbiome impacts health, I had to really rein myself in, as there are so many ways in which the microbiome impacts health and is implicated in various health conditions. I am going to keep this as short and sweet as I can. What follows is a very brief overview of some of the ways in which the microbiome is connected to, and impacts, human health and a peek into some of the health conditions associated with a disrupted/unhealthy microbiome.
Microbiome 101: What shapes your unique microbiome?
Your microbiome is in a dynamic state of flux and flow. Your birth and first few years of life lay the foundations for your microbiome. But it doesn’t end there. Throughout your life there are innumerable factors that impact your microbiome, including your dietary choices, exposure to pets, taking antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals, your stress levels and your exposure to pesticides. The good news is that, even if you have had life events/exposures that have negatively impacted your microbiome, there are daily habits that can positively impact your microbiome going forward (in part 4 of the Microbiome 101 series we will discuss how you can support a healthy microbiome).
Microbiome 101: The Role of our resident Microbiota
The first installment of a 4-part Microbiome 101 series. To start our exploration of the microbiome, we first delve into some of the myriad ways in which the microbes living within us play an integral in our health (and even our happiness!), so you can get an idea of just how important these little cohabitants are for humans.