Ever wanted to know what’s the big deal about probiotics? How are these little guys necessary?
In the study of various relationships among different kinds of organisms whether at a normal viewpoint or a microscopic level, it is fascinating to see the different kinds of ways in which different species benefit in each environment. An amazing yet very common example of a symbiotic relationship would be how our intestinal walls host a wide array of different kinds of bacteria. These, in return, help us to break down matter and absorb nutrients from it for our body to utilize.
Without having a symbiotic relationship between our gut and the bacteria in it, the body would be severely less efficient in absorbing nutrients from the food we consume.
Therefore, in both scenarios, it is a mutualistic relationship between our body and our gut bacteria.
So it made me ponder…
Would there ever be a scenario where the relationship within our gut biome would ever be a bad symbiotic relationship? I had to dig deeper and understand not only from the human body perspective but also from an ecological environmental standpoint as well. I hypothesize that there might be a direct correlation between the health of our microbiome within the intestinal region and our overall mood and the nervous system, via more specifically: The Vagus Nerve.
Commensalism and Parasitism are not the ideal relationships that we might associate with always having a good relationship. Commensalism is when both species are in a neutral state, and they are neither gaining nor losing resources when interacting with one another. Parasitism is the negative relationship in which an organism harms the other organism it is in a relationship with to gain more resources and increase its survival chances.
So you probably reading and saying to yourself: why the biological comparison?
Well, understanding the ecosystem within the microbiome of our intestinal tract is also comparable to an ecosystem in the outside world. There is a vast diversity of different kinds of species all living under a shared space for resources.
This can be said to help our biome grow beneficially, thus promoting a healthier lifestyle for our day-to-day activities. Combined with a balanced diet, there is fundamental research to back up that our body will be greatly improved not only from a physical standpoint but also mentally. Thus, it is so important to take care of our bodies, as well as the microbiome in our gut.
