The gut microbiome plays a very important role in your health. It controls digestion and has a beneficial impact on your immune system and other aspects of health. An introduction to the Microbiome in Health and Diseases is a prelude to subsequent books on this topic which provide in-depth coverage on the microbiome from basic to clinical microbiology. This introductory volume offers an overview on the microbiome and explores the role of the human microbiome in health and disease outcomes. It examines the compositional structure and molecular approaches to microbiome characterization and identification. Additional coverage also includes an introduction to animal microbiomes, plant microbiomes, epigenetic programming, gut microbiota and the impact of diet and exercise, as well as the relationship between the microbiome and COVID-19. Key Features, Provides fundamental coverage on the microbiome and its effect on human health and diseases. Describes procedures for sampling small and larger samples of the microbiome. Discusses patents, bioproducts, commercialization, and the social, ethical, and economic implications of the microbiome.