What Is a Microbiome?
The microbiome refers to the collective genetic material of all the microbes—bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses—that live in and on the human body. We are more microbial than humans, with over 100 trillion microbes outnumbering our human cells by ten to one. Most of these microbes reside in our gut, particularly in the large intestine. In fact, the genes in our microbiome outnumber those in the human genome by 200 to 1, and the microbiome itself can weigh up to five pounds.
These bacteria play crucial roles, such as helping us digest food, regulating our immune system, protecting us from harmful bacteria, and producing essential vitamins like B12, thiamine, riboflavin, and Vitamin K.
How Does the Microbiome Benefit Us?
Our microbiome is essential to our survival and well-being. It serves as our first line of defense—starting with our skin, followed by our mucus membranes, and finally, our gut. These microbes create a living barrier that can adapt, and transform based on our individual needs and environments.
The microbiome is vital for nutrient breakdown and absorption. Without it, much of our food would be indigestible, and we would miss out on critical nutrients. These microbes also secrete beneficial chemicals naturally as part of their metabolic process.
Where Does Our Microbiome Come From?
We are products of our environment. When we are born, our gut is a blank slate, ready to be populated by the microbes we encounter. Our first exposure comes from the birth canal, followed by the gutnurturing properties of mother’s milk. As we grow, familial, dietary, and environmental factors shape our unique microbiome, influencing our health throughout our lives.
Every interaction we have—whether it’s kissing someone, petting an animal, eating a meal, or applying cosmetics—affects our microbiome’s composition.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Investors India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Investors India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Thematic Fund Or Sectoral Fund, Which Fund Suits You?
A thematic fund is a type of mutual fund that focuses on investing in companies based on specific themes or trends.
Be Kind To Your Kidneys
The kidney is a vital organ in our body which is four inches long and two and a half inches in width.
Have You Included A Passive Fund In Your Portfolio Yet?
The assets under management (AUM) of passive funds recently crossed the Rs. 10 lakh mark. While a significant portion of this money comes from institutional investors, such as the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), these funds are also gaining popularity among retail investors.
Mutual Fund
1. SEBI allows mutual funds to buy and sell credit default swaps (CDS)
Insurance News
1. The finance minister has launched a new NPS scheme named NPS Vatsalya
ASK THE EXPERT
Dear Sir, I attended your webinar on post-retirement financial planning. As advised by your good self, I invested in NPS after retirement.
Market Mystery: Some Important Investing Lessons from Fund Managers Themselves
Mr. Mahesh Patil is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited. As the CIO Mahesh oversees INR 3 lakh crore of assets under management.
How to make a cautious entry into equity funds during a bull market
The number of mutual fund folios has been rising, with flows via the systematic investment plan (SIP) route reaching new highs.
All that you need to know to kickstart your retirement planning process
We all enjoy planning for the future. It’s a good idea to plan ahead of time for anything, from the day’s activities to a vacation.
5 Steps To Achieve Your Financial Goals
From a beach house, a Jaguar, to traveling the world – there are many things in life that we want to accomplish.