Microbiome

When you hear the word microbiome, you probably think of the gut. Fair enough, it gets most of the attention. But what if we told you that microbes are not just hanging out 'down under'? They are everywhere. There is the oral microbiome living in your mouth, the skin microbiome covering every inch of your body, the urogenital microbiome, the lung microbiome, and, of course, the celebrity of the microbial world, the gut microbiome. These tiny organisms are not unwanted guests infact, truth be known, we are their guests. They are part of you, which helps keep you alive.

Traditionally, the microbiome refers to the trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that live in and on the human body. Whilst that may sound a little unsettling to some (especially if you like to wash and gargle several times a day and take bowel movers that may have you running to the ‘loo’), these microbes play a vital role in digestion, immune function, hormone regulation, nutrient production, metabolism, and even brain health (yes, dementia and the microbiome have a communication issue). In fact, around 90% of the body’s serotonin, often nicknamed the ‘happy molecule’, is produced in the gut. The microbiome is also in constant conversation with the immune system, helping it decide what is friend, what is foe, and when it is time to ‘chill out and just be’.

The microbiome is one of the body’s great communication networks. It helps explain why in some cases, digestive symptoms may show up as skin problems, why stress can affect gut health (you know how sometimes gut issues seem to improve when you go on holiday? That kind of thing), and why hormones, mood, immunity, and metabolism rarely work alone. Like any thriving community, diversity is key. The more varied and resilient the microbiome, the more resilient the person. Understanding the microbiome reminds us that health is not simply about individual organs, but about relationships, connections, and the remarkable ecosystems that live both within us and upon us and how these are also dependent on the soil on which you live.