You Are 75% Bacteria, Fungus, and Virus: Welcome To Your Microbiome
The human microbiome plays an essential role in overall health and disease management. Find out how here.
In this article:
- The Microbial Diversity of the Human Gut Microbiome
- What Is a Microbiome?
- What Affects the Microbiome Composition?
- How Do I Know if the Microbiome Is Unbalanced?
- What Is the Relation Between the Gut Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer?
- How Do I Maintain Balance Within the Microbiome?
Understanding the Human Microbiome
The Microbial Diversity of the Human Gut Microbiome
Who hasn’t heard the quote, “You are what you eat?”
But did you know you aren’t what you eat? You’re actually made up of mostly bacteria, fungi, and viruses!
That’s right! Only 25% of our bodies are made up of human cells, the rest are organisms that live inside us.
We get these microbes from being in contact with the world, which is also made up of several kinds of microbial species.
Despite their negative reputation, not all bacteria, fungi, and viruses bring harm to the body. In fact, they help keep our bodies balanced and working properly!
So what exactly is the microbiome and how important is it to our health and well-being? Let’s find out more about this community of organisms inside the human body below!
What Is a Microbiome?
The body’s community of organisms or microbes is called the microbiome. There are several microbiomes inside the body. They can be found in the mouth, digestive system, lungs, and skin, to name a few.
Keeping your gut microbiome well-balanced also helps improve your immune response, allowing you to fight off infectious diseases and other illnesses.
RELATED: What are Digestive Enzymes?
What Affects the Microbiome Composition?
Each microbiome changes over time and can be affected by diet, genetics, stress, and alcohol.
The human microbiome starts developing and evolving from birth. Mothers do not just pass on genes to their babies, they also transfer their own bacteria and a host of other microorganisms when they give birth.
Meanwhile, a baby develops gut bacteria and other microbes in the digestive tract by drinking breast milk. That’s why it’s important for newborn babies to drink their mother’s milk as soon as they’re born.
As the baby grows into an adult, the environment it lives in also plays a major role in its microbial diversity.
The microbes from the soil and water source of the food a person eats also contribute to his gut microbiome. The same applies to the pets he takes care of and the different people he meets throughout his life.
Not taking care of your microbiome may result in gut-related diseases and other digestive problems.
How Do I Know if the Microbiome Is Unbalanced?
All microbes, fungi, and bacteria you allow into your gut and body may help or ruin the microbiome’s balance. Being exposed to too much bad bacteria species may cause digestive issues ranging from mild to fatal.
If you feel any of the following conditions, your gut may not be doing well:
- Constant abdominal pain
- Frequent diarrhea
- Chronic constipation
- Acid reflux
- Smelly gas
- Unusual colored stool
You can also find out how your gut is doing by using the BIOHM Gut Test. Your gut health will be checked and compared to all 6 major bacterial communities and 4 major fungal communities.
A BIOHM team of nutritionists can also help you create a daily dietary, supplement, and lifestyle plan to heal your gut. Reach out to us at BIOHM!
What Is the Relation Between the Gut Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer?
A balanced gut microbiome prevents digestive tract-related issues like Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, and leaky gut syndrome. However, recent microbiome studies found a significant role the gut microbiome plays with colon cancer.
According to the research, the microbiome interacts with colon cancer host microRNAs. This is an important discovery because past microRNAs are known to regulate colon cancer tumor cell growth.
MicroRNA Definition: These are non-coding RNAs that can stick to messenger RNAs to block protein creation. They are being studied for cancer treatment.
This means the microbiome can possibly play a role in colon cancer therapy and a patient’s survival outcome.
How Do I Maintain Balance Within the Microbiome?
To balance the gut microbiome and free your gastrointestinal tract from toxins, try the following tips below:
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid taking antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
- Eliminate added sugar and artificial sweeteners.
- Eat plant-based foods.
- Try an Omega-3 or fish oil supplement.
- Sleep for at least 6 hours daily.
- Exercise at least three times a week.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
- Add a prebiotic and probiotic supplement with both bacterial and fungal strains into your daily meals.
- Eat fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, natto, and yogurt.
- Avoid stress as this may also affect your microbiome.
- Follow breathing exercises or join a yoga class to help you with meditation and deep breathing.
I could drone on all day about the microbiome, fortunately, an infographic was created by the American Academy of Microbiology. (One of the world’s oldest, largest and most respected life science organizations in the world.)
So now you know a little more about your body’s various microbiomes, especially your gut microbes!
I personally didn’t know all those germs amount to 2.5lbs of our weight!? What a rude way to treat your host!
For the gut microbiome to stay healthy and free from diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, incorporate BIOHM’s Probiotics and Prebiotic supplements into your daily diet.
BIOHM is the first probiotic engineered to combine both good bacteria and good fungi, along with a powerful enzyme to break through the plaque-like protective wall formed by bad bacteria and bad fungi deep within your gut.
BIOHM uses a whole microbiome approach to gently maintain balance in your digestive system— helping support your journey to achieve optimal health and wellness from within.
To learn more about BIOHM, click here.
What other aspects of the human microbiome do you want to know more about? Don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below!
- Is Your Microbiome Normal?
- What You Need to Know About SIBO & Gut Health
- Your Probiotic is Missing a Key Ingredient
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 21, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.