I’m Microbiota, let me introduce myself
Within the gastrointestinal tract, the colon or gut is home to 100 trillion or so microbes, about 10 times more than all the cells in the human body. The average healthy adult has up to 2kg of bacteria in their gut, along with smaller numbers of microbes on the skin and all other parts of the body, together, these are ‘The Human Microbiota’.
The microbiota helps us digest foods that cannot be digested by the stomach and small intestine, and helps produce vitamins, such as B and K. A healthy and balanced microbiota will ensure our digestive systems are working properly. It also plays an important role in our immune system - an estimated 80% of our immune system can be found in the gut - by acting as a barrier as well as preventing aggression from other microorganisms(1).
Since the 1950s, microbiologists have shown increasing links between the gut microbiota, health and disease. The gut has been identified as a very important bioreactor for our health. The microbiota also has a permanent two-way message exchange with our brain on how we feel, on our digestion, metabolism, memory, mood, and wellbeing.