At Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, we're always exploring cutting-edge research to provide our patients with the most comprehensive and effective care. Today, we're delving into an intriguing aspect of human biology that's gaining attention in the scientific community: the holobiome. 

The Holobiome: Beyond the Microbiome

Most of us are familiar with the concept of the microbiome - the collection of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The microbiome plays a crucial role in our health, influencing everything from digestion to immune function.

However, there's a broader concept that encompasses not just these microorganisms, but also their genetic material and the complex interactions between them and our bodies: the holobiome. The holobiome is defined as the sum total of the component genomes in a eukaryotic organism, comprising both the host genome and the microbiome.

The Holobiome and Emotional Health

...

Did you know that we can train our bodies and minds to change the way we automatically respond to our environment? A fancy word used to describe this phenomenon is neuroplasticity, or the ability for the nervous system to change its response to stimuli via changes in structure or function. Our brains are neuroplastic, which provides so many with such hope, especially to those who feel they are a slave to their emotional triggers or those who have suffered from brain injuries.

We must understand how we can promote neuroplasticity, so we can take action in the betterment of our brain and neurological health! Several important factors that contribute to neuroplasticity are:

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Belief Systems
• Sleep and circadian rhythm
• Use of creativity
• Having a sense of purpose
• Stress management

When we eat foods that promote the health of our brain and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier we are optimizing our ability to promote neuroplasticity. Such foods that...

Feeling through the pain of our circumstances is the most healing and courageous thing we can do for our bodies and minds after living through trauma, whether it was a minor or major traumatic experience.

Most of us wish we could skip through the phases of feeling the painful emotions involved in the healing journey. We may take the initiative to identify where the pain derived from, acknowledge why we are the way that we are, and then we want to jump miles ahead toward an envisioned end point of healing. However, our bodies and minds will not allow us to do so. Self-awareness does not indicate healing, and often keeps us trapped in our past pain when we do not take the necessary steps to process the emotions behind the event.

It takes courage to allow ourselves to feel the pain of our traumatic experiences. Our brain has a tendency to try to protect us, telling our minds that it is too much to confront, so we push the feelings down even further down, burying the...