You are a habitat

We live in a habitat, an environment, an ecosystem — the web of life. We depend on plants and animals and other organisms to keep the Earth liveable.

You yourself are a habitat. Our digestive system is a biome. We need to keep our gut flora healthy by eating well, and it’s not a bad idea to deliberately ingest probiotics such as yogurt or kimchi. Your skin, too, is a biome that hosts bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mites. Some cause problems, but others keep you well by protecting their home against aggressors.

These are revolutionary ideas. We used to think all “germs” were bad, so anything anti-bacterial made us more healthy. It turns out that’s not always so. The microbes in us and on us outnumber our own cells ten to one.

Scientist and doctors are trying to sort out this new territory. Meanwhile, you can take pride in being a generous host just like a tree who shelters birds, insects, moss, lichen, and other organisms. We travel through life with lots of friends.