- People study the gut microbiome.
- The microbiome helps control estrogen in the body.
- Estrogen affects growth and health.
- Industrial lifestyles change the microbiome and its work.
- Researchers compared many people in different places.
- The work looked at babies and adults.
- Formula-fed babies had different microbes than breastfed babies.
- Microbes can turn discarded estrogen back into blood.
- These changes can begin early in life.
- Scientists now want to find exact causes.
Difficult words
- microbiome — All tiny living organisms in a body areagut microbiome
- estrogen — A body chemical that affects growth and healthdiscarded estrogen
- industrial — Related to factories and modern work and cities
- researcher — A person who studies and tests thingsResearchers
- formula-fed — Given baby milk from a bottle, not breast
- microbe — A very small living thing, like a germMicrobes
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think microbes help health?
- Do you live in a city or a town?
- Were you breastfed or formula-fed as a baby?
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