Our wonderous microbiome
From the moment we first open our eyes, we start on a lifelong journey to make sense of the world.
A baby’s mind is filled with questions. Who are these strange people? How do my hands work? How much food can I tip on the carpet?
This curiosity with the outside world has driven our understanding, urging us onward to the moon, to the stars, and perhaps eventually beyond.
Recent breakthroughs in science, however, have revealed a new frontier, and it’s taking us in the opposite direction.
The microbiome
Inside every one of us is a world every bit as complex and intriguing as the outside world.
We all play host to a fascinating, tiny universe of trillions of living micro-organisms which are collectively known as the microbiome.
These bacteria, fungi and viruses which outnumber the stars in the Milky Way, have evolved with us over thousands of years and, as the basis of our immune and digestive systems, influence our everyday health.
While we have already begun to take strides in our understanding of this rich ecosystem, researchers also believe it will be the site of much more health science in the future.
In the beginning
They say there’s nothing more precious than a mother’s love. But a mother’s germs are almost as important.
Babies inherit a whole encyclopaedia of useful bacteria from their mums, primarily through breastfeeding and, if born vaginally, their passage through the birth canal.
These bacteria pass into the baby’s gut, where they form the bedrock of a growing microbiome.
The microbiome changes and adapts as we journey through life. Once a child starts solids, it’s introduced to a whole new set of micro-organisms, and contact with other people and animals further increases bacterial diversity.
A helping hand
The ideal way to support a healthy microbiome is with a fresh, balanced diet and regular exercise. But our modern Western lifestyles have made it more difficult to maintain our bacterial diversity.
Antibiotics and modern food hygiene, for all their benefits, have limited our exposure to bacteria, while processed, fibre-poor foods give our microbiomes little to feed on.
An additional way to help support the diversity of the microbiomes is to supplement a healthy diet with probiotics, which contain bacterial strains specifically selected to support the health of the gut.
Life-Space offers a range of premium, multi-strain probiotic formulas for all stages of life. For instance, Life-Space Pregnancy Probiotic contains 15 strains of beneficial bacteria and is formulated to support a healthy microbiome and general health and wellbeing.
At the opposite end of the scale, Life-Space Probiotic for 60+ Years contains six strains of Bifidobacteria, which may decline naturally in people over the age of 60 years.
And there’s a product to suit every age in-between.
Living innovation
Recent decades have seen a huge increase in our understanding of the microbiome, but much remains to be discovered.
As we explore this fascinating world inside, we become capable of understanding processes that were once a mystery, leading to innovations in the way we live our lives.
This is just the start. Stay tuned and join us on the journey.
Always read the label. Follow the directions for use.