Part 1:
Through the course of this class, we have learned about tons of different human non-infectious diseases that are influenced by microorganisms. There are some diseases which are more obvious such as those associated with out gut, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or different gastrointestinal diseases. However, our microbiota is actually connected to a more diseases and health related responses within our body. For example, microorganisms affect diseases such as diabetes or obesity which have to do with our glucose and nutrient intakes. Surprisingly, microorganisms have also been tied to influencing human mental health such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Part 2:
Looking back at my first writing exercise where we also made a list of non infectious diseases that are affected by microorganisms, I can see that my knowledge has become more broad. I remember when I first the first writing exercise I felt pretty clueless and didn’t know where to begin until I had done some preliminary research. However, for this assignment I was able to reflect back to the past 10 weeks and remember different diseases we had learned about.
I think the most important thing I will take away from this is that the gut microbiota affects just about everything that is related to our health: from gastrointestinal diseases to mental health to our sleep and circadian rhythm. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of our gut microbiota and make sure it is diverse and has proper levels of healthy bacteria. Just from this class, I have already started to be more mindful about what habits I have that affect my gut microbiota, such as my diet, daily behaviors, and any routines I might have. From initially being something that I rarely thought about at all, I am now realizing how impactful the gut microbiota is in our lives and how many factors can affect it.
