Can Our Connection to the Natural World Shape Our Microbiome?

Humans and microbial communities in nature have been evolving together for billions of years, but how connected are we, truly, to the landscape outside of our bodies? Can urbanized lifestyles, exposure to pollution, and the consumption of nutrient-depleted and synthetic foods contribute to unbalanced health patterns? These are just some of the questions scientists are beginning to explore as they expand their understanding of the environment-microbiome health connection and examine what happens inside the body when humans are disconnected from their natural surroundings.

Microbioscape research is a developing field of study that examines the crossover between microbiome science and landscape research.¹ How can “getting out in nature” potentially impact the gut microbiome and the immune system?

Greenspaces, Health, & Nature-Based Interventions

Recent research suggests that growing up or living in microbe-rich environments, such as traditional farms, may impact the diversity of beneficial bacteria in the gut.^2,3 Interventional studies evaluating the effects of nature-related educational programs and soil exposure on gut microbial diversity in children suggest that exposure to natural environments has the potential to increase gut microbe diversity over a short period of time.^4-6 Nature-based interventions may also impact immune regulation,^5,7 and researchers theorize that regular exposure to natural environments, especially in early life, may help to prevent or lessen the impact of atopic diseases,^4,5,8 but this research continues.

People who live in cities may be less exposed to diverse microbiota from natural environments due to a range of socioeconomic factors. Accessibility to green spaces, for example, has been shown to benefit health and lower all-cause mortality risk,⁹ yet studies indicate that access to urban green spaces within under-resourced US neighborhoods is limited.¹⁰

As literature supporting the beneficial relationship between humans, biodiverse environments, and microbial communities continues to grow, so too do strategies designed to benefit people and nature.^1,11 For example, there is an interest in the role of nature-based health interventions like “green prescriptions,” which can include:^12,13 

• Therapeutic horticulture
• Biodiversity conservation activities
• Exercise in greenspaces

It is important to note that many factors influence both the effectiveness and success of nature-based health interventions, and further studies are needed.^12,13 In addition, some researchers are looking at whether green infrastructure, like urban parks and community allotments, could be designed and managed to generate microbiome-associated health benefits. Others are examining the possibility of “rewilding” environmental microbiomes by restoring urban ecosystems and their microbial communities to a state that benefits human health.¹

Functional Medicine Approach

Today, over half the world's population lives in an urban setting; the United Nations projects that 66% of us will live in a built city environment within two decades.¹⁴ How will this shape and contribute to immune and overall health? As our understanding of the connection between humans, their microbes, and the environment continues to evolve, functional medicine understands that many components contribute to health and well-being and takes a comprehensive, whole health approach to prevention and treatment.

Within the functional medicine framework, practitioners consider how a patient’s physical environment and neighborhood health may impact health outcomes. These practitioners also collaborate with patients to develop personalized therapeutic strategies that are most beneficial to their current conditions and concerns. Click below to find a functional medicine practitioner near you to learn more about how lifestyle-based interventions can support your immune system and health.