Microbiome
What is the microbiome?
The microbiome is the unique collection of the trillions of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi and viruses—that live in and on your body.
Why is it important to protect the microbiome?
Your microbiome helps you absorb and digest food, balances your blood sugar, trains your immune system, regulates your mood, and more. In fact, the health of your microbiome is the key to your overall wellness. It can even affect your skin health and vitality. In short, most of our physiological functions are directly or indirectly affected by the health of our microbiome.
Is there a microbiome in my home?
Yes! Each home has its own unique microbial ecosystem made up of the bacteria shed by everyone who lives there. Antibacterial cleaners and disinfectants get rid of both the bad and the good bacteria in the home environment and alter the microbiome. When the home’s microbiome isn’t healthy and balanced, your own microbiome can suffer as a result. This is where natural cleaners come in!
How do products that are gentle on “good bacteria” still get my home clean?
Contrary to popular belief, regular household messes don’t actually call for strong chemical and antibacterial cleaners. Natural cleaners like Castille soap, vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils will do the trick. Probiotic cleaners will also keep the bad bugs away without getting rid of the good ones.
Pest Solutions
Studies show that exposure to pesticides changes the microbiome of the body and the home. Even spraying pesticides outside of the house can be troublesome when it’s tracked back inside by shoes and pets.
Although it may be effective in ridding our homes of unwanted house guests, using chemical pesticides upsets the natural balance of bacteria in our space and can lead to serious issues like asthma, allergies and even skin conditions like eczema.
Avoid disrupting this important balance and choose pest solutions that get rid of the bad guys while keeping the good guys around—products that utilize essential oils and probiotics to help keep the good microbes around.
Personal Care
You don’t have to rely on toxic products to keep your body clean. Conventional deodorants work by indiscriminately killing off bacteria in your armpits, opening up space for new (smellier) bacterias to thrive.
New deodorants infused with prebiotics, control odor by feeding the body’s good bacteria which in turn, helps fight the bad bacteria that is causing the stink.
Not only does prolonged use of antibacterial soaps and products cause resistance to bacteria, but research actually shows that plain old soap and water is just as effective against the bad bugs as antibacterial soaps and it won’t alter your skin’s microbiome.
Basic Cleaning
Our homes are made up of hugely diverse populations of bacteria—both good and bad—that have a direct impact on our bodily microbiome and health.
Most standard cleaners you’ll find on grocery store shelves aren’t selective—they kill everything—both the bad and the good bacteria—which is actually more harmful than helpful to our overall health in the long run.
Cleaning your home with harsh chemicals can disrupt your microbiome’s natural balance and can lead to issues like asthma, allergies, skin conditions and more.
Gut Health
Nearly 80% of your immune system lives in your gut, which is also where the largest part of your body’s microbes live and work. It’s here in your gut where the good guys—known as probiotics—crowd out the bad bacteria, make vitamins and antibodies for the immune system to use, and seal the gut barrier so toxins can’t get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation throughout the body.
Without these happy helping probiotics, our immune system can become wildly imbalanced—not to mention our mood. Our gut bacteria also help to make things like neurotransmitters (like the all important serotonin) that play a role in managing our stress levels and regulating temperament.
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