10% human. How your body's microbes hold the key to health and happiness

Obesity, autism, mental health issues, IBS, allergies, auto-immunity, and cancer—could the key to understanding these modern 'Western' diseases lie in our gut? Remarkably, you are only 10% human; for every one of your cells, there are nine microbial companions. This means you are not just flesh and bone but also a complex ecosystem of bacteria and fungi, with your gut hosting around 100 trillion of these microbes. Recent scientific research reveals that these microorganisms play a crucial role in our health, influencing everything from weight and immune function to mental well-being and even partner selection. This groundbreaking exploration by biologist Alanna Collen redefines our understanding of various diseases, suggesting that many stem from our neglect of our microbial relationships. It sheds light on questions left unanswered by the human genome project, fundamentally altering our perception of diet, disease, and medicine. The encouraging news is that, unlike our human cells, we can positively change our microbial composition. This book serves as a transformative guide, promising to change how you view your body and health forever.