What is the microbiome and how does it affect the gut?
Essentially, the microbiome is made up of the trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, found in our bodies. These microorganisms sometimes referred to as microbes or microbiota, are essential for our body's immune system, heart health, weight management, and other bodily functions. The number of bacterial cells in our body outweighs the number of human cells we have. According to Harvard Health, microbes are vital as they help the body "stimulate the immune system, break down potentially toxic food compounds, and synthesize certain vitamins and amino acids, including the B vitamins and vitamin K."