Bacteria as Intelligent Allies: My Conversation with Natasha Trenev I recently had another conversation with my dear friend Natasha Trenev, founder of Natren and known worldwide as the Mother of Probiotics. Natasha has spent more than 60 years in the field of fermented foods. She was the first to introduce probiotics to North America back in 1982, long before most people even knew what the word meant. We spoke about how environmental toxins are destroying our microbiome, how bacteria are far more intelligent than we realize, and what simple steps we can all take to heal our bodies and our homes. As many of you know, I healed myself from widespread Crohn’s disease and have been drug and surgery free for almost 30 years. I’ve spent the last 25 years helping others do the same. Natasha and I are aligned in our mission: to restore health by protecting and nurturing the microbiome. This blog is based on my in-depth interview with her. You can watch the complete episode in this video: Or listen to the podcast: We talked about how chemicals and pesticides disrupt the microbiome, why bacteria are intelligent beings, and what simple steps can detox your home. We also explored traditional foods, the probiotic strains that truly help, and how mindset and emotional healing create a healthy inner terrain. The discussion also highlighted bacteria as intelligent, sentient beings: Bacteria are smarter than viruses and compete with yeast for intelligence They don’t waste energy on actions that don’t benefit them Bacteria communicate with each other and immune cells using photon light emission and chemical means They respond to human emotions and thoughts, affecting fermentation processes Bacteria make decisions based on their best interests, not out of love for humans They can help detoxify the body and support overall health when given the right environment Talking positively to bacteria and expressing gratitude can enhance their beneficial effects This perspective emphasizes treating bacteria as conscious partners in health rather than just passive supplements. How do Bacteria communicate with immune cells? Natasha explained something very interesting about the various mechanisms bacteria use to communicate. Our bacteria are constantly in conversation with our immune system. They are not silent passengers, they are actively guiding what happens in our bodies. They do this in three main ways: 1. Chemical Signaling They release specific molecules that plug into immune cell receptors They also produce compounds that change how immune cells behave 2. Direct Contact Their surface proteins can physically touch immune receptors This contact tells the immune cells what action to take 3. Photon Light Emission Yes, bacteria actually emit tiny light signals Our immune cells can detect and respond to those signals Through these methods, bacteria can influence how our immune system reacts, when it should calm down, and how inflammation is regulated. The communication goes both ways. Immune cells send messages back, and the bacteria adjust accordingly. When our microbiome is healthy, this back-and-forth keeps the body balanced. When it’s damaged, the lines of communication break down, and that’s when trouble begins. Bacteria Also Respond to Our Emotions But here’s where it gets even more interesting: bacteria also respond to our thoughts and emotions. Natasha shared that in fermentation labs, if the person tending the cultures came in with negative energy, the batch often failed. The bacteria simply refused to “set” properly. This is why I actually talk to my probiotics when I drink them. I thank them for coming to help me. I send them love. It might sound strange, but these are sentient beings. They respond to the environment we create: both physically and emotionally. When we treat them as partners rather than passive supplements, they often do more for us. Chemicals, Pesticides, and the Explosion of Chronic Disease We also disc