The human microbiome is made up of a remarkable variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungus, and even some protozoans and viruses- that live on and inside the human body such as our gut, vagina, skin and mouth.
Bacteria play important roles in the digestive, hormonal and immune systems of the human body1. For example, bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, allow humans to digest foods and absorb nutrients that otherwise would be unavailable2.
References
1.Di Bella, J. M., Bao, Y., Gloor, G. B., Burton, J. P. & Reid, G. High throughput sequencing methods and analysis for microbiome research. J. Microbiol. Methods 95, 401–414 (2013).
2.NIH Human Microbiome Project defines normal bacterial makeup of the body | National Institutes of Health (NIH). Available at: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-human-microbiome-project-defines-normal-bacterial-makeup-body.
The human body is made up of trillions of bacteria. A healthy body will have a balance of good and bad bacteria. However, factors such as stress, diet, travel and some medication can influence this balance.
When the bad bacteria in our body outnumber the good ones, problems will arise in our digestive tract and overall health.
Our gut microbes might influence our:
- Immune System
- Digestive Health: Leaky Gut Syndrome, Bloating, Gas, Inflatulence, Constipation, Diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Disease, etc.
- Skin Health: Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, etc.
- Respiratory Health
- Mental Health: Depression, Emotional Imbalance, Anxiety, Mood Swings
- Others such as weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and other disorders.
Everyday, our body are exposed to pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. The immune system works to prevent these pathogens from invading into our body.
A healthy microbiome with more “friendly” bacteria has less room for pathogenic microorganisms to establish themselves and cause disease.