MICROBES & LONGEVITY

Reclaiming Our Understanding of Health: Lessons from Nature

"If I could live my life over again, I would devote it to proving that germs seek their natural habitat—diseased tissue—rather than being the cause of diseased tissue." – Rudolph Virchow

My grandfather, born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1919, lived to the remarkable age of 99. After serving in the war, he found peace in New Zealand, where his daily countryside walks reminded him of home. A devout naturalist, he spent his days tending to his fruit and vegetable garden, surrounded by birds, bees, and the rich, living soil he carefully nurtured. I was lucky to be his little helper, picking and eating straight from the garden, learning the rhythms of nature first-hand.

One of the most memorable lessons he taught me was composting—turning food scraps into humus, layer by layer, until it became rich, black, life-giving soil. He knew that healthy soil meant healthy plants, just as a well-nourished body fosters health from within. He lived in harmony with nature, breathing in and working with microbes daily. Despite his love for Irish tea and biscuits, his deep connection to the land kept him strong, clear-minded, and resilient.

Reading Bechamp or Pasteur? A Lost Chapter in the History of Biology reaffirmed what my grandfather instinctively understood: microbes are not our enemies but nature’s recyclers, breaking down diseased tissue rather than causing it. As Bechamp revealed, illness is not a battle against external germs, but a reflection of our internal environment—influenced greatly by our diet, lifestyle, and exposure to both the natural and artificial world.

The Microbiome: Our Inner Soil

Modern science is finally catching up with what ancient wisdom and natural living have always known—our health is directly tied to the health of our microbiome, the vast ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes living within and on us. Research has shown that a diverse and well-balanced microbiome is essential for digestion, immunity, mental clarity, and even emotional well-being.

Just as a thriving garden depends on rich, diverse soil teeming with beneficial microbes, our bodies rely on a balanced internal microbiome to:

✅ Support Immunity – Over 70% of our immune system resides in our gut, and beneficial bacteria help regulate immune responses, reducing inflammation and protecting against disease.

✅ Improve Digestion & Nutrient Absorption – A healthy microbiome breaks down food, extracts nutrients, and even produces essential vitamins like B12 and K2.

✅ Enhance Mental Health – The gut-brain connection is profound. Beneficial gut bacteria influence serotonin production, stress response, and cognitive function.

✅ Reduce Chronic Disease Risk – An imbalanced microbiome is linked to conditions like obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and even neurological diseases.

The Connection Between Soil & Human Health

What’s fascinating is that the same principles that govern soil health also apply to human health. The bacteria and fungi that create fertile soil are strikingly similar to the microbes that maintain our gut health. In fact, exposure to healthy soil can actually boost our microbiome—studies show that contact with soil microbes like Mycobacterium vaccae can improve mood, strengthen immunity, and reduce inflammation.

Yet, modern agricultural practices—pesticides, monocropping, and soil depletion—are stripping the earth of its microbial richness, just as processed foods, antibiotics, and environmental toxins are eroding the biodiversity of our gut. As our soil health declines, so does our collective well-being.

If Pasteur’s Germ Theory were entirely correct, and it's conventional medicine based on it truly healed, wouldn’t our population be healthier, stronger, and living longer? Instead, we face rising chronic disease, mental health crises, and a growing disconnect from nature.

Perhaps it’s time we shift our understanding of health—moving beyond the common modern day fear that harmful microbes are the prominent or primary cause of disease, to a deeper recognition of what truly nourishes, sustains and protects us. The answers are always found in nature and rediscovering to our authentic ways, so let's connect back to this powerful source of life giving energetic force.

Read the article here.