Step 1:
One of the most interesting things I have learned in this course is the gut microbiome. Prior to taking this course, I had very little knowledge about the gut microbiome and its affects on our health. It was really interesting to find out how the condition of our microbiome can tell us so many things about our health such as correlation to development of several diseases, and obesity. Reading about the microbiome almost every week made me reflect on the things I eat and how they might affect my gut microbiome. For example, I had always thought I took antibiotics to get rid of the bad bacteria in my body and never would have thought it was also negatively affecting my body as well. I had took antibiotics for my acne for 2 years. I did not know that antibiotics would adversely affect my microbiome by also harming the good bacteria in my gut. I am
Step 2:
antibiotics would adversely affect my microbiome by also harming the good bacteria in my gut
Step 3:
From my first free write, I underlined the phrase, “antibiotics would adversely affect my microbiome by also harming the good bacteria in my gut”. I chose this phrase because I had really bad acne growing up, so my primary care doctor prescribed me antibiotics. He has warned me about the minor side effects taking the antibiotics such as sun sensitivity, skin dryness and irritation but I had no idea it had also affected other parts of my body besides my skin. So, it was interesting to find out that antibiotics had also affected the benefitival bacteria living inside me. When the doctor prescribed me the medication, I saw an immediate change in my skin. Because of this I had always thought antibiotics were the best for getting rid of infections in the body. I remember in one of my discussion posts, I had talked about how rapid bacteria can adapt and develop certain resistance, I wonder if there is constantly made new antibiotics to fight off these bacterias or do people just rely on taking different antibiotics to kill it?
Step 4:
After doing this writing exercise, this significantly helped me organize my thoughts about what to write for my final paper. Before I had no idea what to write my essay on, but now writing out my thoughts, it helped me figured out what topic I am most intrigued about to write on. In order to prepare for my final paper, I will research the background on antibiotics and their functions in the human body and its affects on the gut microbiome. I will begin looking for primary and secondary research articles to provide relevant information and support for my paper.
