Healthy microbiome depends on the immune system. Boost immune system in children is possible through supervision of lifestyle in early age. The microbiome is a bunch of microbes in the intestines weighting about 3 pounds. It is the same weight as for brain. Humans have nearly ten thousand microbial species. There are at least one hundred microbes for one human gene. Bacteria are responsible for biochemical activities such as digesting carbohydrates from food of making vitamins.
How Are Kids And Microbiome Connected?
The period from the birth to three years is busy for children microbiome. During three years the child’s microbiome is continuously changing. By age three, microbiome will have the same behavior pattern as in adults.
Adults have stable and bouncing back after challenges microbiome. First three years are essential in the toddler’s life. All interactions with food, people, and environment influence the quality and behavior of microbiome.
More Dirt In Child’s Life, More Health For Microbiome and Immune System
Children who play outside, interact with animals and have plenty of siblings or friends around develop robust microbiome and immune system. How does it happen?
It is same as the training. The child exposed to various unharmful bacteria which train the immune system to adjust and deal with multiple intruders.
Our ancestors did not wash hands with sanitizer or dishes in machines. They hunted, planted, cultivated soil touching it whenever it was needed.
Good And Bad Bacteria
Good and bad bacteria are the expressions of lifestyle. Bacteria can change behavior according to the environment, food, and immune system. Usually, the healthy immune system keeps bacteria in right places. Authors of book Dirt Is Good told that
some of the bacteria that are considered to be beneficial to your gut when stressed, turn to the dark side and infect your body’s tissues.
Bacteria behave in the excellent or harmful way depending on circumstances. For example, E.Coli usually sits quietly in the gut, but when food changes, stress or toxins bother us, E. Coli can cause diarrhea or urinary tract infections.
It is fascinating how robust immune system is keeping things in check. Meningitis bacteria reside in the back of throat and nose. However, just one in thousand can be infected thanks to close contact with the carrier.
Everything Is Connected
Parents can boost children’s immune system by introducing them to new things such as dirt, animals, friends, or various objects. The well trained immune system would keep microbiome in good shape not letting them rebel. Nutritious food, fresh air, plenty of play and moves around will keep microbiome and immune system in balance. Microbiome and immune system correlate. The immune system is healthy, microbiome flourishes.
Here is an interesting video about a connection between gut microbe and brain. Unfortunately, we forgot many of beneficial things. Slowly, we return to the excellent and unharmful lifestyle.
Do you have any thoughts about the importance of food to our wellbeing? It would be great to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.