Does Soil Contribute to the Human Gut Microbiome?

Lynn Hughes

on

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Does Soil Contribute to the Human Gut Microbiome?

In the latest episode of Metabolic Matters, Dr. Nasha Winters chats with Bob Jones, co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of The Chef’s Garden, a family-owned farm committed to cultivating nutrient-dense, flavorful produce through healthy soil management. Together, they dive into an interesting question: Can the soil we walk on affect the bacteria living in our gut? Their conversation highlights a fascinating study by Winfried EH Blum, Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern, and Katharina M Keiblinger (Blum et al., 2019) that explores this connection.

The Study: How Soil and Gut Health Are Connected

The study (Blum et al., 2019) shares a surprising fact: soil and the human gut have about the same number of active microorganisms (tiny living things like bacteria). But here’s the catch—our gut has only 10% of the diversity found in soil. And this gap has grown because of our modern lifestyle.

Key points include:

Less Gut Diversity: Living in cities, eating processed foods, using antibiotics, and having less contact with nature have all reduced the variety of good bacteria in our guts.
More Unique Microbiomes in Cities: People in urban areas have more individualized gut bacteria, but this comes with the loss of many helpful microbes.
Losing Soil Biodiversity: Modern farming, with its heavy use of chemicals and focus on growing just a few crops, has decreased the variety of microbes in soil. This could affect the microbes we get from our food.

How Our Ancestors Stayed Connected to Soil

Long before cities existed, humans were constantly in touch with soil—through the food they ate, the water they drank, and even direct contact. This helped create a rich, diverse mix of gut bacteria. Some cultures even practiced "geophagy," which means intentionally eating soil for its health benefits.

How Modern Life Breaks This Connection

The "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that being too clean and avoiding natural microbes (like those in soil) might be why allergies and autoimmune diseases are more common today. Kids who grow up on farms or in rural areas—where they play in dirt and are around animals—tend to have stronger immune systems and fewer allergies than city kids.

What This Means for Your Health

Bob Jones points out in the podcast that reconnecting with nature isn’t just nice—it’s important for your health. The soil under your feet, the food you eat, and the environment you live in all affect your gut bacteria.

Here’s how you can improve your gut health:

Eat Organic, Locally-Grown Foods: These foods often come with beneficial microbes from healthy soil.
Spend Time Outdoors: Gardening, hiking, grounding/earthing, or just playing in the dirt can help you get more exposure to natural microbes.
Eat a Variety of Plants: A diet rich in different fruits, vegetables, and fibers helps support a diverse gut microbiome.

Nourish Your Body, Heal the Planet, Support Patients

Just as the health of our soil shapes the health of our gut, the choices we make about the food we eat ripple far beyond our plates. When you purchase from The Chef’s Garden at Farmer Jones Farm, you’re not just investing in nutrient-dense, regeneratively grown produce—you’re participating in a cycle of healing that starts with the earth, nourishes your body, and extends to others in need. Their vegetables, grown in living soil teeming with beneficial microbes, support gut diversity and metabolic health, as highlighted in the study we explored above. Even more, your purchase helps fund patient grants through MTIH, making a direct impact on the lives of those navigating cancer and other metabolic diseases. Every bite becomes a step toward better health for you, a healthier planet, and hope for someone else’s healing journey.

Final Thoughts

As Dr. Nasha and Bob discuss, we’re deeply connected to the environment. The soil beneath us is full of life, just like our gut. Understanding this connection can help us tackle modern health issues. Tune into the full episode of Metabolic Matters to learn more about how the earth beneath your feet might be shaping your health.

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Reference

Blum, W. E. H., Zechmeister-Boltenstern, S., & Keiblinger, K. M. (2019). Does Soil Contribute to the Human Gut Microbiome? Microorganisms, 7(9), 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7090287