Microbiome 101: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Support It Naturally

If you’re interested in health, chances are you’ve heard the term microbiome. But what is it really—and why is it so important?

At Enriched Being, we believe real health starts from within. And few systems inside the body are more influential than your microbiome—a living ecosystem that quietly shapes your digestion, immunity, energy, and even your mood.

Educator writing the word microbiome to explain its importance for health, digestion, and wellbeing

🧬 What Is the Microbiome?

Your microbiome is the community of trillions of microbes—bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms—that live in and on your body.

You actually have more microbial cells than human cells.

And far from being harmful, many of these microbes are essential for health.

They help to:

• Digest food and absorb nutrients

• Regulate inflammation and the immune system

• Produce vitamins and neurotransmitters

• Support metabolism, brain function, and skin health

🌍 Where Is the Microbiome?

We tend to focus on the gut, but the microbiome exists throughout the body:

Body Area	What It Does
Gut	Breaks down fibre, regulates immunity, supports the gut-brain axis
Skin	Acts as a protective barrier and supports wound healing
Mouth	Supports oral health and the start of digestion
Lungs	Influences respiratory immunity and inflammation
Vagina	Maintains pH and protects against infections

The gut microbiome is the most studied—and arguably the most influential—of them all.

🧠 Why the Microbiome Matters

🛡️ 1. Immune System Support

70–80% of your immune cells live in your gut. A balanced microbiome helps prevent both underreaction (infections) and overreaction (autoimmunity).

🧠 2. Mood & Mental Health

Your microbes produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA. They influence mood, memory, and stress resilience through the gut-brain axis.

🔥 3. Inflammation & Disease Prevention

An imbalanced microbiome (called dysbiosis) is linked to chronic inflammation—often at the root of heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

⚖️ 4. Metabolism & Weight

Certain gut microbes help manage blood sugar, hunger hormones, and fat storage.

🔬 What Does the Latest Research Say?

🧪 Fermented Foods Reduce Inflammation

A 2021 Stanford study showed that eating 6 servings of fermented foods daily increased microbial diversity and lowered inflammation.

This supports including fermented options like Big Shot—our cold-pressed, wild-fermented microgreen shot—as part of your daily routine.

🧪 Your Microbiome Can Change in Days

Microbial composition can shift in 3–5 days of changing your diet (Harvard, Nature, 2014).That means small, consistent actions make a real difference.

🧪 Social Interaction Builds Diversity

People who live together often share microbes—especially when they share meals.Time with loved ones, physical touch, pets, and being outdoors all contribute to healthier microbiomes.

💊 What About Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are sometimes necessary, but they wipe out good and bad bacteria alike.

A single course of antibiotics can impact the gut for 6 to 12 months, and some microbial strains may not fully recover.

That’s why post-antibiotic recovery matters—fermented foods, fibre, and fresh microgreens help repopulate and rebalance the gut.

🌱 6 Ways to Support Your Microbiome Naturally

✅ 1. Eat More Plants

Aim for 30+ different plant foods each week—fruits, veg, legumes, herbs, nuts, and seeds.

Bonus tip:Include microgreens like broccoli, red cabbage, radish, sunflower, or pea shoots.These are rich in polyphenols, prebiotic fibre, and antioxidants that feed beneficial gut bacteria.

✅ 2. Add Fermented Foods

Sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, miso—and Big Shot, our functional fermented microgreen shot—support microbial health naturally.

✅ 3. Increase Prebiotic Fibre

Feed your good bacteria with:

• Garlic, onions, leeks

• Asparagus, lentils, oats

• Cooked and cooled potatoes (resistant starch)

✅ 4. Avoid What Harms Your Gut

Limit:

• Ultra-processed foods

• Artificial sweeteners

• Alcohol

• Emulsifiers and unnecessary antibiotics

✅ 5. Connect with Nature & People

Touch soil. Walk barefoot. Garden. Hug your people. Eat together. All of this contributes to microbial richness and resilience.

✅ 6. Rebuild After Antibiotics

Consistency is key: fermented foods + fresh plant fibre + rest = real recovery.

🌿 Why We Champion Microgreens

At Enriched Being, we’ve built everything around the power of microgreens.

• Grown cleanly and naturally

• Harvested fresh for maximum impact

• Fermented to create living, functional products

• Nutrient-dense and full of gut-supportive compounds

They're not just a garnish. They’re one of nature’s most potent, adaptable, and healing foods.

💡 Final Thoughts

Your microbiome is an intelligent, responsive ecosystem.Feed it well, and it supports nearly every part of your health—from immunity to energy to longevity.

And the best part?It responds quickly.

Start small.Start fresh.And start feeling the difference.