Scientists estimate that at any given time there are 5-6 nonillions (thats 30 zeros) of bacteria on the earth. They live everywhere – in the soil, in the air and in and on every living thing. Humans have interacted with bacteria since we emerged as a species and we have truly become “life partners”. We rely on the bacteria that live on our skin, in our mouths and in our gut for many functions that are vital to our existence and we provide them with the food and environment that they need to flourish. The bacteria that live in our gut (our microbiome) are particularly important because they perform digestive functions and provide disease fighting services and compounds that truly qualify them as another vital organ.
Unfortunately, our evolution to a “modern lifestyle” with antibiotics, industrialized foods, sanitized environments and very little dietary fiber has taken a serious toll on the health and diversity of our microbiome. Broad spectrum antibiotics that kill both harmful and helpful bacteria have been particularly damaging to both the diversity and strength of our microbiome. Also, because our gut bacteria survive on the dietary fiber that our primary digestive system cannot process, the reduced fiber in our diets has literally starved them. The combined damage has impacted our gut bacteria enough that they are no longer able to perform some of their digestive and disease fighting functions. In the worst cases they cannibalize the mucous lining of the large intestine in ways that produce a variety of gastric ailments and allow bacteria and toxins to leak into our bodies. There is growing evidence that the increased occurrence in western societies of obesity, asthma, irritable bowel, auto-immune diseases and even cancer are a result of our weakened microbiomes and leaky gut linings.
The exact links between the rise in these “western ailments” and the diminished capacity of our microbiomes are being pieced together by a world-wide research effort. Extensive field studies and experimental laboratory evidence make a compelling enough case that I am convinced that it is important for me to act now to restore the health and diversity of my microbiome. As a first step I have read all of the literature and scientific studies that I can in an effort to understand how the microbiome works and what I can do to make it work better.
This blog is an effort to collect what I have learned and some of the conclusions that I have drawn into an understandable package that I can share and discuss with friends. As I learn more and gain experience from some of the changes I have made in my own lifestyle I will update the appropriate sections of the blog.