Valentine’s—one of the more divisive days of the year. And there’s no shortage of conversation about the effect on people’s mental health, whether by stigmatising single life, or imposing unrealistic pressures on couples.
But how much coverage have you seen about love and gut health?
I don’t think many people would argue that environment plays a role in your health—pollution reducing microbial diversity, for example. There’s more to environment than just the air we breathe. It extends to the people we spend time with. Including partners. In fact, research shows that your love life can have an impact on your gut microbiome.
Thinking of popping the question?
Research in Nature found that married individuals harbour microbial communities of greater diversity. Although marital tensions can impact mental health, and subsequently, your microbiome.
Arguing over whose turn it is to clean the living room?
Your house’s cleanliness will also have an effect on the make up of your microbiome.
You can even be linked to your partner by your “gut prints”. Maybe not quite as useful as fingerprints, but there’s got to be at least one crime scene where it might have helped. Something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of going Bonnie & Clyde.
None of this research is particularly advanced, so please, please do not make any major life decisions. But if you want to find out whether you’ve truly found your soulmate (gutmate?), now you can.
