The intestinal microbiome is the umbrella term for all microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, viruses and fungi) in our digestive tract. It is also referred to as the second human genome, as the multitude of different organisms exists within us almost like an organ of its own.
It represents a highly complex system that is home to trillions of microbes - mostly bacteria - that play a vital role in your overall health - from digestion to immunity, even mood and skin.
The composition of the intestinal microbiome can be negatively influenced by a number of factors, including stress, medication (especially antibiotics), infections, diet and many more. In those cases some bacterial strains might become dominant and crowd out others, or the overall number of bacteria might be reduced. This state, called dysbiosis, is associated with a number of negative outcomes on your whole body!
By feeding your microbiome certain bacteria every day, you can start your day feeling balanced from the inside out.