In case you missed it, the Human Microbiome Project was a thought-provoking, industry-stopping achievement, even if it took a while for the rest of the world to catch up. The discovery that our bodies are home to a vast array of microbes—many of which are essential to our health—was a scientific breakthrough of the first order.
The human body is home to trillions of microbes. They are found in all parts of the body, inside and out. While some microbes may get a bad rap, many microbes (and what they produce while living in and on us) make life, as we know it, possible. We likely could not live without them.
After the completion of the Human Microbiome Project, experts began talking in earnest about the microbiome and how humans can harness the power inside the body for better health and longevity. We scoured the vast archives of knowledge created by the TED Talk community and rounded up our top 8 favorite talks on the microbiome, all of which are sure to inform and inspire.
Gut Instinct: How The Microbiome Talk to our Cells
Theresa Alenghat | TEDxCincinnati
Scientist Theresa Alenghat runs a research lab investigating our relationship with microorganisms that normally live in our gut microbiome. Theresa shares how bacteria in our gut communicate with our cells and how this relationship can be affected by diet.
Helping You Find Your Personalized Diet
Viome CSO, Momo Vuyisich | TEDxSedona
Viome's very own Chief Science Officer, Momo Vuyisich gives a TED Talk in Sedona about his personal journey with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, which developed in his early 20s. Hear how he discovered that a science-based, personalized diet based on gut microbiome activity could address his arthritis and give him relief. This journey lead him to found Viome Life Sciences to explore this revolution in nutritional healing with Naveen Jain.
How the gut microbes you're born with affect your lifelong health
Henna-Maria Uusitupa | TEDxPhiladelphia
In this fascinating talk from microbiome researcher Henna-Maria Uusitupa, learn how the gut microbes you acquire during birth and as an infant impact your health into adulthood. You'll also hear about new microbiome research that could help tackle problems like obesity and diabetes.
Eat yourself healthy - your microbiome and you
Sheena Cruickshank | TEDxManchester
Our immune system is critical for fighting infections, but it also has to cooperate with helpful microbes like the ones that live in our gut. Find out how important our microbiome is to our well-being, the extreme measures some people are taking to manipulate it, and what you can do to eat yourself healthy.
How the food you eat affects your gut
Shilpa Ravella | TEDEd
The bacteria in our gut breaks down food the body can’t digest, produce important nutrients, regulate the immune system, and protect against harmful germs. And while we can’t control all the factors that go into maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, we can manipulate the balance of our microbes by paying attention to what we eat.
Your Gut Microbiome: The Most Important Organ You’ve Never Heard Of
Erika Ebbel Angle | TEDxFargo
Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle discusses why the gut microbiome is the most important organ you’ve probably never heard of. The gut is the second brain, and gut health affects your overall health. This means that you are what you eat, but you are also the metabolites that live in your gut. These metabolites produce important and necessary substances that you need for emotional balance, energy level, and disease prevention.
Plants, the microbiome, and mental health
Christopher A. Lowry | TEDxMileHigh
If you suffer from mental wellness issues, you’ve probably heard this well-meaning advice: “eat healthy & get some sunshine.” But do you know WHY this works? Dr. Lowry’s research program focuses on interventions for the prevention and treatment of mood disorders, with an emphasis on the role of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in stress resilience, health, and disease.
The gut-brain axis: Grow your gut, Expand your mind
Omar Koussa | TEDxUniversity of Balamand
The food we eat daily can affect our mood and psychological well-being. However, what if the choice of our food is influenced by tiny microorganisms inside our bodies? Omar Koussa presents this topic with passion- she is a pharmacist, personal trainer, and nutrition enthusiast who is hoping to revolutionize the future of medicine and psychology.
