Your gut microbiome works like an organ, processing nutrients and protecting against disease. It communicates directly with your brain through the gut-brain axis, and a dysfunctional microbiome is linked to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, and anxiety.
Why is the microbiome important? Well, let me answer that question with another question, something I alluded to already. Why is your heart important? Why is your liver important? Why are your kidneys important? They're all organs, pretty vital organs, and your microbiome is very much like an organ too. It's a combination of cells that serves critical functions in your body. You couldn't live the same without them. And the microorganisms in your gut, they help process nutrients, protect you from disease when you're healthy, and contribute to disease when you're unhealthy. They also secrete hormones that can impact everything from your skin to your bones to your brain. You may have also heard of something called the gut-brain axis. This refers to the lines of communication between your gut and your brain. That influence health, disease, and yes, behavior. A dysfunctional gut microbiome is thought to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia. Really, your microbiome controls basically everything brain and mind, or at least influences it.
