EZ Reflections
Posts
The Grand Design

The Grand Design

What the Microbiome Teaches Us About Well-Being

Furkhan Dandia
August 26, 2025

Sponsored by

The Grand Design: What the Microbiome Teaches Us About Well-Being

In last week's episode of EZ Conversations, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Martha Carlin (Listen Here). As so many of my guests, Martha's purpose in life—exploring the impact of our gut health on our overall well-being—was driven through personal adversity. With her husband being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 44, Martha turned her systems thinking from accounting toward understanding how what we eat can do more than just provide us with nutrition.

Our discussion centred around the lack of information—or in many cases, misinformation—about the foods we consume. We explored how our well-being, especially our mental health, relies on how we take care of our gut. While the topic of gut microbes has become increasingly prominent in understanding our overall health, Martha and I just scratched the surface.

As I reflected on the conversation with Martha while spending time in nature, I could not help but think of the grand design of the Creator. To honestly think about how our bodies are designed, and how everything is meant to work in harmony through the various forms of communication taking place at the cellular level, is incredibly astounding. Even more fascinating is the fact that the food we consume is meant to sustain this intricate design.

But as we are coming to realize, all the artificial flavouring, processed food, and engineered products are damaging our bodies because of their superficiality, much like anything in life. Without depth, there can be pain and suffering. The challenge becomes: how do we become aware of it all? Information is now at our fingertips, and if we choose, we can create better lives for ourselves.

Why Gut Health Matters

Science increasingly confirms what Martha shared: the gut is more than a digestive system—it is a command center for overall health. The human gut houses trillions of microbes, collectively known as the gut microbiome, which play a vital role in digestion, immune function, and even brain health (Lloyd-Price et al., 2016).

What has become particularly striking in recent years is the gut-brain axis—the bidirectional communication between the gut and the central nervous system. Research shows that gut microbes produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which directly influence mood and mental health (Strandwitz, 2018). Approximately 90% of serotonin, a key regulator of mood, is actually produced in the gut (Yano et al., 2015).

Disruptions in gut health have been linked to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (Cryan et al., 2019). Moreover, diets high in processed foods, artificial additives, and low in fiber can lead to dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria), which is associated with inflammation, weakened immunity, and impaired mental functioning (Zmora et al., 2019).

Taking Back Control

While these findings may sound daunting, they are also empowering. The food choices we make every day—incorporating fibre-rich foods, fermented products, and prebiotics—can actively reshape the microbiome toward balance and resilience (Valdes et al., 2018). Regular exercise, stress management, and exposure to natural environments also positively impact gut microbial diversity.

This means that managing our gut health isn’t just about avoiding illness; it’s about cultivating mental clarity, emotional resilience, and long-term vitality. As Martha reminded us in the episode, adversity can often serve as a powerful teacher. In her case, it led to a pursuit of knowledge that is now helping countless others discover the link between nutrition, microbes, and overall well-being.

Closing Thoughts

There is indeed a grand design at work. Our bodies, minds, and even the smallest microbes exist in a delicate balance meant to sustain life. When we honor this design through mindful eating and lifestyle choices, we not only nourish our bodies but also fortify our mental health.

Perhaps the first step is simply awareness—recognizing that gut health is foundational. From there, we can begin to make better choices, embrace deeper truths, and create lives of resilience and meaning.

References

Cryan, J. F., O'Riordan, K. J., Cowan, C. S., Sandhu, K. V., Bastiaanssen, T. F., Boehme, M., ... & Dinan, T. G. (2019). The microbiota-gut-brain axis. Physiological Reviews, 99(4), 1877–2013. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00018.2018

Lloyd-Price, J., Abu-Ali, G., & Huttenhower, C. (2016). The healthy human microbiome. Genome Medicine, 8(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-016-0307-y

Strandwitz, P. (2018). Neurotransmitter modulation by the gut microbiota. Brain Research, 1693(Pt B), 128–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.015

Valdes, A. M., Walter, J., Segal, E., & Spector, T. D. (2018). Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. BMJ, 361, k2179. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2179

Yano, J. M., Yu, K., Donaldson, G. P., Shastri, G. G., Ann, P., Ma, L., ... & Hsiao, E. Y. (2015). Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis. Cell, 161(2), 264–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.047

Zmora, N., Suez, J., & Elinav, E. (2019). You are what you eat: diet, health and the gut microbiota. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 16(1), 35–56. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-018-0061-2

A snippet of the Episode

Head to YouTube for the full episode. Or Subscribe below:

What people are saying about the podcast:

Quote of the Week:

“A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him.”

Louis Pasteur

Looking to build your own Newsletter?

Follow my personalized link to get 20% off all Beehiiv plans:

beehiiv — The newsletter platform built for growth

Access the best tools available in email, helping your newsletter scale and monetize like never before.

www.beehiiv.com?via=EZ

Reply

or to participate.

The Grand Design

What the Microbiome Teaches Us About Well-Being