A trillion willing helpers: Exploring the microbiome of people and animals with Joe Flanagan of Ingenious Probiotics
Aug 14, 2024
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Joe Flanagan, an expert in microbiomes from Ingenious Probiotics, dives into the world of trillions of microorganisms crucial for health. He discusses the harmful effects of conventional cleaning products and their impact on air quality. Joe highlights innovative probiotic solutions for healthier living environments and critiques industrial farming's impact on biodiversity. With insights into holistic pet care and the importance of maintaining microbial balance, he encourages individuals to rethink their cleaning choices and their broader implications for health and the planet.
The podcast highlights the crucial interdependence between human health and the overall health of the biosphere, emphasizing the impact of our actions on the ecosystem.
Listeners are urged to recognize the hidden toxins in household products that not only affect human and animal health but also harm the environment.
Probiotics are presented as a beneficial alternative to traditional cleaning products, promoting healthier microbiomes and improving indoor air quality for pets and humans alike.
The conversation regarding probiotics in veterinary practices underscores an evolving perspective, encouraging holistic approaches that prioritize both health and behavioral well-being in pets.
Deep dives
Interconnectedness of Human and Environmental Health
The discussion emphasizes the profound relationship between human health and the health of the biosphere. It points out that many toxins infiltrate our lives through the food we eat, the water we consume, and the air we breathe, largely driven by the rush for profit. The need for awareness regarding the harmful substances we unknowingly apply in our homes is highlighted, including pollutants that damage both our health and the environment. This interconnectedness serves as a reminder that our actions significantly affect the broader ecosystem.
The Importance of Microbiomes
Microbiomes, especially those in the gut, soil, and air, are crucial for maintaining health in both humans and animals. The podcast discusses the idea that the trillions of microorganisms around us are essential for life and that their balance is vital. A deeper understanding of not just the gut microbiome, but also that of the air and our skin, underscores the need to foster a beneficial microbial environment. This knowledge prompts listeners to consider how they can support their microbiomes and those of their pets.
Transition to Probiotics for Pet Care
The transition from traditional cleaning and grooming products to probiotics signifies a shift in understanding how to maintain health. Probiotics are introduced as a means to restore a healthy microbial balance in pets while simultaneously improving indoor air quality. Instead of relying on chemical attacks against harmful bacteria, the focus is placed on promoting beneficial bacteria that compete with pathogens. This approach not only aids in pet care but also contributes positively to the environment.
Vet Practices and Probiotic Use
There is a growing relationship between probiotic products and veterinary practices, particularly with holistic-minded vets embracing these alternatives. The podcast notes that veterinarians often face challenges when balancing conventional medical treatments with the introduction of probiotics. Success stories, such as reduced ear infections and healing rates in dogs, provide encouragement for more vets to adopt these methods. As experiences with probiotics accumulate, the hope is to overcome skepticism among traditional vet practices.
Chemical Pollution and Its Consequences
The podcast sheds light on the pervasive issue of chemical pollution resulting from household cleaning products and industrial practices. The dangers extend beyond immediate effects on pets and humans—they contribute to environmental degradation and aquatic toxicity. Reports on how these chemicals contaminate rivers and harm biodiversity illustrate the critical need for awareness and action. Ultimately, reducing chemical use in everyday life is framed as an achievable goal that every individual can take part in.
Behavioral Implications of Environmental Toxins
A link is drawn between environmental toxins and their potential impact on behavior in both pets and humans. Stressors, such as chemical exposure and the resulting discomfort, can manifest in behavioral changes, which raises critical concerns for pet owners and caregivers. As the conversation navigates through pet behaviors influenced by underlying health issues, the emphasis is placed on addressing these concerns at the source. Thus, the overall health approach combines physical well-being with behavioral awareness.
A Call to Action for Healthier Choices
Listeners are encouraged to take proactive steps in making healthier choices for themselves and their pets, emphasizing simple actions such as reducing chemical exposure and promoting a healthier microbiome. Suggestions include replacing harmful cleaning agents with probiotic alternatives and being mindful of the food choices for pets. Each small change can lead to significant improvements in health and well-being. The podcast fosters a sense of agency, urging individuals to light their own candles in what can feel like a dark world.
We know that being kind to our gut biome is crucial to our health, but what about the trillion happy helpers (or not) on our skin, in our lungs, our ears, our mouths… the things we slaughter daily with the ‘cleaning products’ we splash around our homes that not only impact our biomes directly, but leach out into our waterways, soil and the air that we breathe so we end up adding to ecosphere annihilation.
Human health and the health of our planet are intimately interwoven and while we're all getting to grips with the need to keep our gut biomes (and those of the animals who share our lives) healthy, we're woefully behind on the need to look after the rest of our biome: skin, lungs, teeth, eyes, ears..
I listened to Joe Flanagan months ago on Viki French’s brilliant ‘PupTalk’ podcast and knew we needed to talk here, too.
Joe is a font of information and this was a unique opportunity to explore ideas with someone right at the cutting edge of transformation. We talked everything from canine aural surgery to human behaviour and the corruption endemic in our health systems. Above all, we got to grips with the fact that if each of us changes our behaviour – if we actively choose to stop poisoning the planet that is our home – and stop poisoning ourselves and those we care most about at the same time – we can make radical improvements in the way our system works.