What should you believe about the microbiome? A condensed history from the mass media:

A collection of recent links:

2018: the problems, the promise:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/mbdnyn/are-microbiome-diagnostic-tests-worth-it

2020: What is “good”:

https://medium.com/medical-myths-and-models/the-singular-healthy-microbiome-does-not-exist-cc9c2d8b0e5f

Where is our understanding from:

https://www.science.org/content/article/studies-human-microbiome-ignored-developing-world-potentially-compromising-treatments

Why do some of the links of diet to health exist:

https://www.insider.com/plant-based-diets-lower-heart-disease-risk-good-gut-bacteria-2021-1

Were these prior links to health…for sure?

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1284791/stomach-pain-cramps-bloating-how-to-stop-get-rid-of-green-algae

https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/probiotics-could-help-with-mental-health-research-finds-but-experts-say-you-shouldnt-rush-to-stock-up-on-yogurt-and-supplements/articleshow/76883582.cms

Can we use current knowledge reliably? Precisely?

https://medium.com/hngry/precision-probiotics-tailor-good-bacteria-to-your-gut-microbiome-3dc9f0743d92

Or could unclear data lead to harms?

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/is-your-gut-healing-diet-actually-hurting-you

Which links to health are more certain, which just theories?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood-microbe/201906/problems-sleeping-look-your-gut

How does a respected scientist end up in the Daily Mail?

https://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/health/article-7125749/The-meal-plans-dont-work-identical-twins-study-finds.html

Is it a sales pitch or actual science?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/gut-feeling-to-stay-healthy-keep-your-bodys-microbes-in-line-1534503600

Is it promising enough to drive major research and it’s financing?

https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diego-receives-14m-to-drive-precision-nutrition-with-gut-microbiome-data

https://news.stanford.edu/2022/09/06/stanford-researchers-construct-complex-complete-synthetic-microbiome/