Chris’s Poop Test Results: What is Your Gut Microbiome?

A Note From Dr. Rose: The human gut microbiome is composed of trillions of organisms including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes. When we think of the Amazon Rainforest, we picture a vibrant ecosystem with many different species of plants and animals, however, this pales in comparison to the biodiversity of the gut microbiome. The number of genes in the human genome are outnumbered by the number of genes found in our gut microbiome 150 to 1.2! Our gut microbiome influences gene expression and biological functions, impacting human physiology, both in health and disease.

We all have our own unique microbial blueprint. However, there are two things we strive for in a healthy gut microbiome- good biodiversity (meaning having as many different types of bacteria species) and the right balance of good bacteria (or keystone species) and bad bacteria (or pathogens). EVERYTHING in the gut follows the Goldilocks Rule: we want just the right amount!