She explains its importance for our physical and emotional health, the factors that alter its balance, the habits we need to change to keep it healthy and the consequences of a weak microbiota.

By Beba ARLANZON

The microbiota is the set of bacteria, fungi, archaea, viruses and parasites that are found throughout our body and with which we live in a symbiotic relationship that benefits both. The gut microbiota alone can weigh up to 1.5 kilos and contain between 10 and 100 trillion micro-organisms. This microbiota, also known as gut flora, is not only responsible for metabolic activities but, among its many important functions, it maintains the immune system, manages our emotions and our response to stress. Therefore, when the gut ecosystem loses its balance, it is essential to restore it. Diet is one of the elements to which we must pay attention, but in reality, our lifestyle and environmental factors influence the health of these “bugs” that protect us from all kinds of diseases.

In this new edition of Épsilon, we have invited Míriam Guillén, a biotechnologist specialising in oncology and clinical psychoneuroimmunology. She is currently working as a researcher in an international biotechnology company and with her we talked not only about microbiota, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, but also about cancer, the role of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of this disease and the importance of an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, despite the fact that our environment does not favour it. The good news is that the microbiota is very grateful and it is usually easy to keep it happy and content. We will have to change some habits, but the benefits more than make up for it. So grab your podcast player, headphones, pen and paper and hit play if you want to find out how to improve your digestion, sleep quality or energy levels.

BOOKS AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Antonio Valenzuela, Hijos de la adversidad. Ed. Alienta.

@heal_yourmicrobes (cuenta Instagram de Míriam)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/43bRoT4QqqqqnuqlXcNdPX?si=79def317dd304e92

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BEBA ARLANZON

Es licenciada en Filología y doctora en Traducción por la Universidad del País Vasco. Actualmente se encuentra en periodo de transición profesional orientada a la comunicación.