Scientists estimate that there are ten times more microorganisms in our bodies than our own cells. These microorganisms, which include bacteria, viruses and fungi, make up our microbiome. Despite their small size, these microorganisms play a vital role in our health and the functioning of our bodies. World Microbiome Day, which is celebrated on June 27, is an opportunity to raise the visibility and understanding of this fascinating and essential ecosystem.
The microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms that exist in a symbiotic relationship with our bodies. It is found on virtually all surfaces of our body that are in contact with the external environment. The largest and most diverse microbial community is found in the gut, where approximately 100 trillion bacteria are found. But microorganisms also live on our skin, in our mouths, in our noses, in our lungs, and even in our genitals. These microorganisms affect our health on several levels, including our immunity, digestion, metabolism, and even our behaviour and mood. Research in recent decades has revealed how imbalances in the microbiome can contribute to a number of health problems, including obesity, depression, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
The microbiome plays a key role in our health. It keeps our digestion in balance, is involved in vitamin production, and helps us fight infections. The gut microbiome plays an important role in the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These SCFAs then influence overall gut function, regulate immune responses, reduce inflammation, participate in the regulation of metabolism or may even play a role in influencing physical performance. Imbalances in the microbiome, known as dysbiosis, have been linked to a number of health problems, including chronic diseases such as Crohn's disease, acid reflux disease, allergies, asthma, obesity, and even psychological disorders such as depression.
Since its first celebration in 2017, World Microbiome Day has become an important platform for raising awareness of the importance of the microbiome and for promoting research in this field. This year, you can join in the celebrations by learning more about your own microbiome, sharing your knowledge with others and supporting research in this area.
There are different ways to support your microbiome and keep it in balance. A diet rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables can help support a healthy microbiome. Also, probiotics and prebiotics found in some foods and supplements can help increase the number of "good" bacteria in our bodies. Specifically, you can try eating traditional fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, or slightly more "exotic" types of fermented foods such as kimchi, tempeh, miso, and the Swedish delicacy surströmming. It also turns out that movement has a positive effect on our microbiome. Therefore, include some kind of physical activity on World Microbiome Day to support your microbes.
The microbiome is a fascinating and complex world that plays a key role in our health and life. Although our understanding of the microbiome is still in its early stages, each new discovery opens up new possibilities for improving our health and quality of life. World Microbiome Day is an opportunity to celebrate and better understand this invisible but essential ecosystem that exists within us.
References:
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Lynch, S. V., & Pedersen, O. (2016). The human intestinal microbiome in health and disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(24), 2369-2379.
Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F. (2017). The microbiome-gut-brain axis in health and disease. Gastroenterology Clinics, 46(1), 77-89.
Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., Mahowald, M. A., Magrini, V., Mardis, E. R., & Gordon, J. I. (2006). An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest. Nature, 444(7122), 1027-1031.
Grice, E. A., & Segre, J. A. (2011). The skin microbiome. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9(4), 244-253.
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World Microbiome Day. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://worldmicrobiomeday.com/
Gilbert, J. A., Blaser, M. J., Caporaso, J. G., Jansson, J. K., Lynch, S. V., & Knight, R. (2018). Current understanding of the human microbiome. Nature medicine, 24(4), 392-400.
Shanahan, F., Ghosh, T. S., & O’Toole, P. W. (2021). The Healthy Microbiome—What Is the Definition of a Healthy Gut Microbiome? Gastroenterology, 160(2), 483–494. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.057
Bongiovanni, T., Yin, M. O. L., & Heaney, L. M. (2021). The athlete and gut microbiome: Short-chain fatty acids as potential ergogenic aids for exercise and training. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 42(13), 1143-1158.
For the third time, we will welcome a number of international experts to our faculty, who will be giving lectures and practical sessions from November 18–22. Register for individual lessons and workshops here!
