Putting your body through the stress of taking an airplane, as well as eating unknown foods, the change in water, climate and time zone, … – all can produce unwanted effects in the stomach. Dr Dmitry Alexeev reveals few principles to follow to help your existing microbes thrive whilst on holiday.

When we talk about the microbiome, we usually forget that the microbiome is only part of a very complex interplay. The composition of our microbiome is influenced by nutrition, lifestyle, early maternal transmission, immune status and genetics of each individual.

It is well known that direct exposure of the skin to UV radiation in the sunlight causes serious damage. But it was only recently that scientists found out that a damaged skin microbiome is one of the reasons for this.

Can gut bacteria increase athletic performance? Lactate tests are common means of measuring performance in sports medicine. What is new is the idea that the lactate level might be influenced by nutrition.

Long life through the microbiome? If you are not new to the world of the microbiome, this will be of no surprise to you: Mechanisms specific to ageing also can be influenced by the microbiome, and most likely this includes diet-microbiota-host interactions.

The recent edition of SPIEGEL magazine is under the headline „The super organ – gut and the secret of a long life“. Judging from the title, one might think this is just one more – more or less profound – guideline on dieting. But this essay takes it one step further.

One of the most prominent representatives of microbiome research is Professor Rob Knight, University of California, San Diego. He received wide attention beyond the science business with his book "Dirt is Good".