Gut Microbiome
The 38 trillion bacteria in your gut that regulate immunity, mental health, metabolic function — and are fed by the dietary fibre in traditional Indian foods.
— Definition
The gut microbiome is the community of 38 trillion microorganisms — bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses — inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract. The majority (99%) reside in the colon. The composition of this community is now understood to influence nearly every aspect of human health.
— In Detail
Key microbiome facts: (1) More microbial cells than human cells in the body; (2) More microbial genes (3 million) than human genes (20,000) — the 'second genome'; (3) 70% of the immune system physically lives in the gut wall (gut-associated lymphoid tissue — GALT); (4) 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut by enterochromaffin cells in response to microbial signals; (5) Short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, acetate) produced by microbial fermentation regulate colonic cell health, insulin sensitivity, and brain inflammation. Diversity is the key metric — higher alpha diversity (number of species) consistently correlates with better health outcomes across virtually every disease studied. The most powerful driver of microbiome diversity: dietary plant diversity. Eating 30+ different plant species per week is the single most evidence-based dietary recommendation for microbiome health.
— Why It Matters
Traditional Indian cooking rotates dozens of plant species across a week — different dals, grains, vegetables, spices. This rotation is exactly the diversity prescription that modern microbiome research recommends. The shift to monotonous diets of rice, dal, and packaged snacks has dramatically reduced Indian dietary plant diversity — and microbiome diversity with it.
— Related Terms
— See in Field Guide
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