Balancing your five essential biomes
The human microbiome: It's a big world for the complex groups of microorganisms that reside in or on your body. There's your gastrointestinal biome; your skin biome; the nasal and lung biome; oral biome; and the urogenital (penile and vaginal) biomes. Each is made up of a special blend of bacteria. Together, these microorganisms outnumber the cells of your body 100 trillion to 10 trillion. Their total weight is around five pounds. But if you're thinking about shedding some holiday heft, that's not the place to lose it! You want to keep those biomes, which contain so-called good and bad bacteria (you need 'em all), in a healthy balance.
Gut Biome
Your gastrointestinal biome is essential for healthy digestive processes, stable glucose levels and a strong immune system. If it's out of balance, you risk irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, some autoimmune diseases and even cancer.
The main gut biome disruptors are antibiotics (which kill off good and bad bacteria), as well as excess alcohol, lack of sleep, stress, even oral antibacterials. A lifestyle upgrade is the best way to make sure it stays in balance. Improve a poor diet (due to the lack of fiber from fruits, veggies and 100 percent whole grains and the intake of added sugars and syrups) by eating 5-9 servings of produce daily and getting in 10,000 steps a day. That way you'll maintain a healthy gut biome, plus a healthy weight and healthy brain.
Skin Biome
A healthy skin biome is made up of bacteria, fungi, viruses, even mites. They reside on open skin and in hair follicles and sebaceous, eccrine and apocrine glands. This biome protects you from infection, acne, wrinkles and many diseases, including skin cancer. Use of antibacterial soaps and household products or poor hygiene can throw this biome out of balance, as can disturbances in other biomes.
Nasal/Lung Biome
Your nasal/lung biome needs to be strong to protect the moist mucosal environment that runs from your nasal cavities into your lungs. When it is, it can help prevent sinusitis, allergies, staph infection and more. But overuse of medicated nasal sprays - and many other meds - can dehydrate the nasal passages, damaging the biome and making you vulnerable to infections. Use saline sprays and well-maintained humidifiers to keep your nasal environment healthy and respect your respiratory biome by never smoking anything!
Oral Biome
Your oral biome defends the health of your teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, hard and soft palates, throat and tonsils - plus the rest of your body that could be assaulted by invaders that come in through the mouth. That's why a healthy oral biome can protect you from everything from oral cancer to diabetes and heart attack.
Regular dental care and preventing gum inflammation and periodontal disease are the best ways to keep your oral biome healthy and on the job! So avoid antibacterial or alcohol mouthwashes, excess alcohol, added sugars and processed carbs.
Urogenital Biome
The vaginal and penile biomes attempt to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. But each gender's biome changes with time and activity. The penile biome's biggest game-changer is circumcision, which protects against infection of the glans and foreskin, plus penile cancer and cervical cancer for female partners. The second biggest is the HPV vaccine; it prevents HPV-related cancers. Mom and Dad, get it for your kids 10-12. Adults to age 26. Get it if you didn't receive that vaccine as a child. Older? Ask your doc.
In women, sexual activity can change the vaginal biome, as do hormones and overall immune health. Alert: The Zika virus also can suppress the vaginal biome. This not only puts women at a heightened risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases (besides Zika), it threatens the health of a fetus, even when Zika has not damaged it in utero, since the virus changes the vaginal biome.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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