Different microbes fare better on certain diets…when you choose your meals, you are also choosing which bacteria get fed, and which get an advantage over their peers.” But for your gut bacteria the choice is more important. “From your perspective, choosing the right item on a menu is the difference between a good meal and a bad one. If these critters are indeed protecting us, then perhaps we should be asking what we can do to protect them? As Yong writes, “bugs invaluable part of our bodies: not takers of life but its guardian.” It doesn’t help that the only time most of us use the word “bacteria” is when we think we may become their victim.įortunately science is starting to change the conversation. Indeed, these micro-creatures have been (often) unfairly punished for over a century, and particularly as of late. Make no mistake the theme of “bacteria as our friends” is little less than a complete reversal of current culture. This new “model” of a human, or indeed most living creatures, a “body-as-a-platform” perspective, may advance our understanding of these developments and more, also leading us towards more effective and hopefully inexpensive medical treatments. Or you may ask yourself what is happening with the seemingly sudden rise in autoimmune conditions. “ I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life” by Ed Yong provides an engaging review of what we know and what may lie ahead.įor those new to the bacteria genre on Amazon - um, everyone? - you may wonder how the common cold remains so stubbornly resistant to scientific advancement. Intriguingly, advancing our understanding may unlock some of the secrets to health, wellness and longevity, ushering in the next revolution in medicine.

This micro-universe interacts with our immune system and other body processes in ways we have yet to uncover, much less understand.

I contain multitudes yong