Do
you remember the “hygiene hypothesis” of the late 1990s? It theorized
that humans had so over-sanitized their environment with disinfectants
and hand cleansers, our immune systems were no longer doing their jobs.
So many consumer products like toothpaste, hand and dish soap, laundry
detergents and even clothes now include antibiotics, said the theory, we
seldom encounter the “bad” germs our immune systems are supposed to
recognize and fight.
you remember the “hygiene hypothesis” of the late 1990s? It theorized
that humans had so over-sanitized their environment with disinfectants
and hand cleansers, our immune systems were no longer doing their jobs.
So many consumer products like toothpaste, hand and dish soap, laundry
detergents and even clothes now include antibiotics, said the theory, we
seldom encounter the “bad” germs our immune systems are supposed to
recognize and fight.
Since the hygiene hypothesis
surfaced, there is growing evidence of its truth. In fact the theory
that certain medical conditions, especially autoimmune ones, may be
caused by a changing or declining bacterial environment in the human gut
is gaining momentum and now called the “disappearing microbiota
hypothesis.”
surfaced, there is growing evidence of its truth. In fact the theory
that certain medical conditions, especially autoimmune ones, may be
caused by a changing or declining bacterial environment in the human gut
is gaining momentum and now called the “disappearing microbiota
hypothesis.”
The bacteria in our gut, collectively
called our microbiome, is a huge, ever-changing universe of billions of
microbes. Each person’s intestinal ecosystem is so individualized and
such a reflection of his unique inner and outer environments, “gut
microbiota may even be considered as another vital human organ,” says one scientific paper. The microbiome has also been called a second genome and even a second brain.
called our microbiome, is a huge, ever-changing universe of billions of
microbes. Each person’s intestinal ecosystem is so individualized and
such a reflection of his unique inner and outer environments, “gut
microbiota may even be considered as another vital human organ,” says one scientific paper. The microbiome has also been called a second genome and even a second brain.
Most
people know that taking antibiotics can change their microbiome by
killing off the “good” bacteria with the bad. That’s why antibiotics can
cause diarrhea and many clinicians recommend taking probiotics with
them. But what scientists are just beginning to learn is microbiomes are
also affected by their outside environment including influences like house dust and even aerosolized matter when
a toilet is flushed. They are also learning that gut bacteria is highly
adaptive and one person’s gut bacteria will take root and flourish in
another’s intestines. This explains the growing popularity of “fecal
transplants” (yes, you read that right) between people who have been
depleted of “good” bacteria and donors with healthy populations of
microbes in their intestines.
people know that taking antibiotics can change their microbiome by
killing off the “good” bacteria with the bad. That’s why antibiotics can
cause diarrhea and many clinicians recommend taking probiotics with
them. But what scientists are just beginning to learn is microbiomes are
also affected by their outside environment including influences like house dust and even aerosolized matter when
a toilet is flushed. They are also learning that gut bacteria is highly
adaptive and one person’s gut bacteria will take root and flourish in
another’s intestines. This explains the growing popularity of “fecal
transplants” (yes, you read that right) between people who have been
depleted of “good” bacteria and donors with healthy populations of
microbes in their intestines.
Still,
the most astounding research that is developing around the microbiome
is the ability of our gut bacteria to affect our brain and “influence
our mood and temperament,” says food expertMichael
Pollan. “If you transplant the gut microbiota of relaxed and
adventurous mice into the guts of timid and anxious mice they become
less stressed and more adventurous.”
