Lasting Beauty Comes From the Gut
How 39 trillion microorganisms influence your health and beauty
By Dr. Huong Nguyen | Editor: Dr. Sabine Nunius | March 8, 2022
FROM CELL RESEARCH & MICROBIOLOGY TO INNOVATIVE SKINCARE
"You are what you eat." I'm probably not the only one who thinks this phrase is beyond trite. But as is often the case with sayings, it's essentially a simple truth. Our diet does indeed have a huge impact on how we feel and how we look. And I don't just mean our weight! Even if we appear slim, toned, and fit on the outside, our skin can tell a completely different story. The cause is often our gut bacteria.
It probably won't surprise you that I'm exploring this topic: skin and nutrition – two areas I'm completely passionate about! However, it's possible that not everyone will share my enthusiasm when it comes to the microbes in and on our bodies. But it's really exciting – so bear with me! I want to give you a little insight into the world of cell biology and the microbiome. In the following stories, I'll also show you how you can improve the appearance and health of your skin and your entire body with a few simple life hacks through "gut health."
Fact of the day
As human beings, we are, from a biological perspective, an ecosystem. Our bodies are inhabited by 39 trillion microorganisms. This means we have more bacteria, viruses, and fungi in and on us than our own body cells.
39 TRILLION MICRO-RESIDENTS FOR YOUR HEALTH
Let's start today with why there are bacteria in and on our bodies at all - and why we absolutely need them. To put it philosophically: there are (a lot of) us. By the way, I don't mean that in the sense of Richard David Precht and "Who am I? And if so, how many?" I'm talking about the microorganisms in our bodies. At first glance, the idea might even be a bit scary, but: As human beings, we are, from a biological perspective, an ecosystem. Yes, you read that right: an ecosystem! We share our bodies with bacteria, fungi, and viruses. And not just a few. Our bodies consist of around 30 trillion human cells, while they are inhabited by around 39 trillion microorganisms. This means we have more bacteria, viruses, and fungi than we have our own body cells.
HAPPY GOOD - HEALTHY LIFE
This vast array of microorganisms is vital to our survival. We now know that certain bacteria have a protective effect and make us less susceptible to diabetes, autoimmune diseases, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and certain food allergies. They also influence, for example, the success of cancer treatments. The majority of these protective microbes are found in our large intestine, and another portion is found on our skin and mucous membranes. If we manage to keep our bacteria happy with the right foods and the right care, this has a decisive impact on our skin and our well-being.
SEQUEL FOLLOWS
Want to know exactly how this works? Then stay tuned for the next story! Here, I'll show you which foods can make your gut bacteria, and therefore you, happy. Happy in the truest sense of the word, by the way – because your gut bacteria can actually stimulate your mental health via the gut-brain axis. So stay tuned – I look forward to hearing from you!