What impact does the microbiome have on the brain? Well, we know that the microbiome influences what can enter the body through the gastrointestinal tract, so it influences things like, what components of the outside world might enter the the body in the bloodstream, and then through the bloodstream be carried to the brain.

The environment that we live in really affects the composition of the microbiome, and the microbiome of other people in our environment also influences a person's microbiome. We live in very highly sanitized environments, spending much more time indoors than outdoors, even the use of certain disinfectants and cleaners that have changed our microbiome, and in that way may be having a harmful effect on children's health.

Some of the things that a family can do to help protect and encourage a thriving microbiome for their child is to pay attention to what your child is eating. We know that food-- and the nutrients in the food --that we eat has a lot of influence on the components of the microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract. Another important thing to pay attention to is what toxins one might be encountering in the environment as those can also influence the microbial content of the microbiome.

Key Takeaways:

• The environment influences our microbiome and in turn, our brain. It’s important we do whatever we can to protect it!