Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Your microbiome, which is an overall term for the many trillions of microbes that live in and on you, is an integral part of you. It is not just a person, but a superorganism. It helps you digest your food, extract the nutrients you need to survive, and produce some of the vitamins your body depends upon. #2 The human microbiome consists of mostly beneficial bacteria, not harmful ones. The balance of your microbiome is extremely dynamic, and so is your health. As the balance and diversity of bacteria deteriorates, so does your health. #3 The modern lifestyle doesn’t make it easy for your gut microbiome. We’re constantly doing things that the bacteria don’t like, such as eating a diet full of ultraprocessed food, alcohol, and antibiotics. #4 When food reaches your small intestine, it’s a soup of partially digested food and any toxic substances you may have accidentally eaten. The lining of your small intestine forms an important barrier to keep these substances from sneaking into your bloodstream and triggering inflammation.