As someone with UC, I hope this isn't true. My sludgy microbiome can't be trusted to do what's right on a daily basis in its native habitat. Can't imagine what it might do to other people. My hugs now come with the shits attached I guess.
Our connections run deeper than we think—down to the microbial level. The idea that friendships shape not just our minds but our microbiomes adds a fascinating layer to human interaction. Makes you wonder—how much of 'you' is actually 'us'?
I've long suspected this is why "gluten intolerance" (not actual celiac) spreads through social groups. One person screws up their gut biome, and then their friends "catch it."
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https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/msystems.00910-19
(yes I peek at the feeds from time to time during the day 😁- equivalent of "up periscope"...)