Did you know that there are ten times more bacteria in your digestive tract than there are cells in your body?

Called the gut microbiome, these tiny bacterial allies play a fundamental role in the immune system. When the delicate balance of these bacteria are disrupted, it sets the stage for inflammation, which is at the root of virtually every chronic illness -- from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, to autism, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. Even a depressed mood, an out-of-control appetite, joint pain, allergies, and thyroid symptoms can have their roots in your gut microbiome.

Today I return to Eat Real Food TV to answer questions about the gut microbiome, including:

• What is it, and why is it so important?
• What factors disrupt its delicate balance?
• What can we do to optimize the health of our gut microbiome?
• What is the role of fiber, and which fibrous foods should we be looking for?
• What should we be looking for in a probiotic supplement?
• What is the best resource for more information on this topic?

[video_player type="youtube" width="560" height="315" align="center" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="20"]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9zMDExS3AwYVR1VQ==[/video_player]

And now I would love to hear from you. I revealed what I would bring with me on a desert island to ensure the health of my own microbiome. What would you bring? Leave a comment below and I'll see you next week and Doctor as Teacher Tuesday.