And, as detailed in the featured documentary, "Microbirth," written, produced and directed by Alex Wakeford and Toni Harman, the groundwork for your gut microbiome laid at the time of birth.

The film highlights how events during childbirth have lifelong consequences, and reviews the current scientific views on how to best seed your baby's microbiome in order to build a robust immune system.

Importantly, a baby basically "inherits" the microbiome from its mother, which is why it's so important to address your gut health before, during and after pregnancy.

If you've taken antibiotics or birth control pills, if you eat a lot of processed or sugary foods — even being bottle-fed as a baby — can impact the makeup of bacteria and microbes in your gut, which in turn will influence your child's microbiome and health after birth. Your microbiome may even have a generational impact, affecting DNA that is then passed on to future generations.