Why Biodiversity is the Key to Gut Health and Life
A teaspoon of soil holds more organisms than there are humans on the planet—8 billion microscopic species, working together in an intricate web of life. This mind-blowing fact underscores just how complex and vital biodiversity is, not just in soil but in every living system, including our bodies.
For a long time, the concept of "good bacteria" and "bad bacteria" dominated the conversation around health, especially gut health. We were told to take probiotics to boost the good bacteria and combat the bad. But our understanding has evolved, and we now know that it's not about individual bacteria being inherently good or bad. Rather, it's about the overall health of the ecosystem they exist in. Just like in soil, our gut thrives when there is biodiversity—a wide range of different organisms working in balance.
A healthy gut is not defined by a handful of "good" bacteria, but by a rich, diverse microbial ecosystem. Monocultures—where one species dominates—are just as harmful in the gut as they are in the soil. In fact, a lack of biodiversity can lead to gut dysbiosis, which is associated with a range of health issues, from inflammatory bowel disease to anxiety and depression. The death of biodiversity is the demise of life. The push towards biodiversity, on the other hand, is the matrix of health.
However, we are facing a crisis in biodiversity—both in our bodies and in the soil we depend on. Over the last century, our agricultural systems have become increasingly dependent on chemicals, particularly antibiotics and herbicides like glyphosate. Glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in the world, was initially patented as an antibiotic and antifungal. It doesn't just kill weeds; it destroys the microbial life in the soil. Every ounce of soil that is exposed to these chemicals loses its biodiversity, making it harder for life to thrive.
The parallels between soil health and gut health are striking. Just as chemicals in agriculture devastate the biodiversity of the soil, the overuse of antibiotics and processed foods wreaks havoc on the biodiversity of our gut microbiome. We are essentially doing to our bodies what we have done to our land—eradicating the diversity that is so crucial for life.
So, what’s the solution? It starts with restoring biodiversity, both in our soils and in our guts. For our gut health, this means diversifying our diets with fiber-rich, plant-based foods that feed a wide range of microbes. For the planet, it means shifting away from chemical-dependent farming towards regenerative agriculture that promotes soil health and biodiversity.
The health of the soil and the health of our gut are deeply interconnected. By nourishing the ecosystems within us and around us, we can build resilience, fight disease, and restore balance. It’s time to embrace the power of biodiversity—for our health, and for the health of the planet.
