Make friends with the 100 trillion organisms that call our bodies home with ‘Bristol Loves Bugs’

Our bodies contain 100 trillion organisms that are essential to our health and life. These are known as the ‘microbiome’. Keeping these good bugs happy is as important as keeping the bad bugs out. So come and make friends with these unseen but vital lifeforms at ‘Bristol Loves Bugs’ on Saturday 22 October, from 2.30-5pm at City Hall.

Microbiome expert and author of The Diet Myth, Professor Tim Spector will shine a light on the human microbiome at the event. Tim is Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Director of the TwinsUK Registry at Kings College London. He will share the latest scientific thinking about the microbiome, and will show you that our diets and lifestyle have huge implications for the good bugs’ survival and for our overall health and wellbeing.

Tim will be joined by Dr Matthew Avison and Dr Esther van der Werf, University of Bristol, who will be focusing on the impact of antibiotics on the microbiome and the extent of antibiotic use in primary Care. Nutritional therapist Helen Cooke will be giving advice on how we can nurture these essential microbes through diet.

This symposium, which is aimed at health professionals, students and members of the public keen to learn more about the microbiome, addresses three main questions:

1. What is the microbiome and why is it important for human health?
2. What are the impacts of antibiotics on the health of the microbiome?
3. Can nutritional approaches enhance microbiome health?

Dr Esther van der Werf said:

“Join us on a journey into the world of the microbiome. Bristol Loves Bugs is a chance for you to get to know the thousands of misunderstood microbes that live in our body. It will explore how our diets and lifestyle, and drugs like antibiotics, have huge implications for their survival and for our overall health and wellbeing.”

Tickets cost £5.90 to cover venue hire and refreshments. Bristol Loves Bugs is not-for-profit, and is hosted by Bristol City Council, the University of Bristol , and the Portland Centre. This event is part of Healthy City Week 2016. Tickets must be booked in advance at Eventbrite.