Microbiome 101
What is the microbiome
Trillions of microorganisms live on and inside you — in your gut, on your skin, in your mouth. They break down your food, produce vitamins, train your immune system and talk to your brain. Meet your microbiome — the organ nobody ever told you about.
In brief
What is the microbiome, really?
The microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria, fungi and viruses living on and inside your body. Together they carry about 150 times more genes than you do, and some scientists call it "the forgotten organ".
They are not intruders. They are part of you, built up over a lifetime: from birth, through the environment you grew up in, and every meal since. In balance, they work quietly in your favour. Out of balance — a state called dysbiosis — your body starts to show it, through bloating, fatigue, skin flare-ups or immune trouble.
What we test
The microbiome isn't in one place. Microorganisms live on your skin, in your mouth, in your gut, across your mucous membranes — practically everywhere on you. Each of these environments is a separate ecosystem with its own composition and its own rules.
The BugSpeaks platform covers exactly these four areas because this is where the science has come furthest: the links between specific microbes and specific conditions are best described and most actionable here. In Bulgaria we offer the gut, skin and vaginal tests; the oral test is coming soon.
Why it matters
The same microbes. Surprisingly many systems
Digestion
Microbes break down the fibre your body cannot and produce short-chain fatty acids — the fuel of the gut lining.
Immunity
A large part of the immune system lives in the gut. A balanced microbiome teaches it to tell friend from foe.
Gut and brain
The gut and the brain constantly exchange signals. Most of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut, although it does not reach the brain.
Skin
Scientists are studying the so-called gut–skin axis, that is, how the state of the gut shows in the skin. In some people, gut problems go hand in hand with acne or redness.
Energy and metabolism
Microbes take part in absorbing your food, produce vitamins and influence how much energy you get from it.
Weight
The make-up of your microbiome shapes how your body stores and burns — one piece of the puzzle behind weight and blood sugar.
Balance is fragile
What disrupts the microbiome
When the balance breaks — a state called dysbiosis — you often pay for it with bloating, fatigue, frequent infections or skin problems. The good news: the microbiome recovers once you know what to change.
- Courses of antibiotics that sweep away the good bacteria too
- Processed food and too little variety of fibre
- Chronic stress and too little sleep
- A sedentary lifestyle
Health topics
The symptom has a name. And often — a link to the microbiome
In-depth guides to the most common digestive complaints and their link to the gut microbiome — what sits behind them and how to find your own cause.
Questions and answers
