Microbiome and the Good Life

"Imagine a lively town with roughly 100 trillion inhabitants, all going about their daily affairs-eating, working, sleeping, communing with friends, squabbling with foes. This could describe any (albeit slightly overpopulated) corner of our planet. But in fact, it's a snapshot of your gut. Meet your microbiome: a jolly congregation of 500-1000 species of bacteria, microbes, archaea, eukaryotes, fungi, and viruses that call your body home."

"It is an entire micro-universe of tiny powerhouses, complete with their own genes and immune and metabolic profiles, playing a significant role in your health and well-being. Much about how they accomplish this feat remains a mystery. From what scientists have uncovered so far, the microbiome helps with everything from extracting energy from food and setting up a gut-brain connection to producing key neurotransmitters, enzymes, and vitamins."

"Professor of Microbiology Sarkis Mazmanian researches the microbiome at Caltech. "Versatile" is how he chooses to describe the microbiome in a single word. Studying it has changed him in several ways, he says. Notably his diet. He avoids processed foods and consumes between 30 and 40 different plant-based foods each week. Along with diet, Mazmanian identifies three additional factors that influence the microbiome-and, by extension, brain function: sleep, exercise, and stress management."

"Here's Dr. Mazmanian on the mysteries of the microbiome and how it impacts our well-being. What supports a healthy and thriving microbiome? SM: One finding is strikingly consistent across hundreds of conditions and thousands of cohorts: in over 90% of studies, healthy individuals have more diverse microbiomes than those with disease. The data also shows that people who consume high-fiber, plant-based diets have more diverse microbiomes. Taken together, these findings suggest that a d"

The human gut contains roughly 100 trillion microbes spanning 500–1000 species, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and eukaryotes. The microbiome carries its own genes and immune and metabolic capabilities and contributes to energy extraction, gut–brain signaling, and production of neurotransmitters, enzymes, and vitamins. Higher microbial diversity correlates with health, with healthier individuals showing greater diversity than those with disease. Diets rich in high-fiber, plant-based foods promote microbial diversity. Sleep, regular exercise, and stress management also shape microbiome composition and thereby influence brain function and overall well-being.

Read at Psychology Today