Within our body and on our skin, trillions of bacteria and viruses exist as part of complex ecosystems called microbiomes. Microbiomes play an important role in human health and disease—and even help us maintain a healthy metabolism and immune system. One of the most important microbiomes in our body is our gut microbiome. It helps us maintain overall well-being by helping us to absorb all the vitamins and minerals from the food we eat.
But when our gut microbiome’s balance becomes disrupted—from things such as stress, illness, or poor diet—it can not only result in digestion and gut problems, but has even been linked to obesity, diabetes, and surprisingly, brain disorders. This shows us that it might be time to look outside the skull to understand the cause of some brain conditions.