“Rewilding” Your Microbiome

We are living in the cleanest era in human history. Our countertops shine, our hand sanitizer lives in every bag, and we have cleaning products for things we did not even know needed cleaning. And let me be clear, this has come with tremendous benefits. Modern hygiene has saved countless lives. We have mastered disinfectants, drastically reduced infectious diseases, and achieved medical miracles our ancestors could not dream of. I am grateful for that progress every single day.

Yet somehow, at the very same time, we are more inflamed, more allergic, more anxious, and experiencing more autoimmunity than ever before. Health is front and center in our conversations, our podcasts, our grocery carts, and our daily routines. But our bodies still seem uncertain about the world we have engineered.

That is because this story is not only about genetics or diet or modern stress. A big piece of the puzzle is more instinctual. Somewhere along the way, we drifted from nature. Our ancestors lived in constant relationship with soil, plants, animals, and weather. We evolved with that world. Our microbes depended on it, and so did our immune and nervous systems.

Rewilding your microbiome sounds whimsical and earthy, but it is really about remembering what our biology has always known. We are not sterile beings meant to exist in sealed rooms and filtered air. We are meant to interact with the world around us. When we gently bring those natural exposures back into our lives, our microbiome, mood, immunity, and resilience begin to reawaken. I’ve talked about probiotic supplements for years, but here are some often overlooked ways to boost your microbiome health diversity. 

The Original Medicine Cabinet

Think about the last time you walked barefoot in grass, sat under a tree, or simply breathed in fresh morning air. Nature regulates us! Forest air carries beneficial microbes and plant compounds that help support immunity and calm the nervous system. Even just being outdoors lowers stress hormones, improves sleep, and lifts mood.

We evolved in environments full of diverse bacteria, soil organisms, and organic matter. Kids who grow up on farms or around animals consistently have lower allergy and autoimmune risk because their immune systems learn tolerance, not hyperreactivity. Rewilding does not require hiking through remote forests. It can be five minutes with your feet in the grass, sunlight on your skin in the morning, or a daily walk without your phone glued to your hand. The point is – the body notices and the microbiome remembers. 

Bring Nature Back Into Your Home

We do not need to move to the countryside or buy a farm to reconnect with nature. We can begin right where we are. Think of it as inviting the outside world in gentle, nourishing ways. Our bodies respond quickly when we create even small moments of natural exposure in our daily environment.

Add a few plants. Even one basil or mint plant on the counter brings microbial diversity and a grounding presence into your home! A small pot of herbs or microgreens also introduces beneficial soil exposure and reconnects you with the rhythm of growing food.

Crack the windows. Fresh air for just ten minutes a day helps circulate natural outdoor microbes and shifts the energy of your space.

Spend time with animals. Pets enrich your environment with healthy microbes, and even short visits with a friend’s dog offers these benefits.

Choose gentle cleaners. Use antibacterial products only when absolutely necessary and trade for something simpler for everyday cleaning so your home supports microbial balance rather than fighting it.

Go for a walk. No explanation needed here! 

None of this is about perfection or becoming a homesteader overnight. It is about remembering that our wellness foundation was built outdoors, surrounded by life, not wipes and fragrance sprays. Your microbiome is alive, and it thrives when you live a little more that way too.