(Please follow the entire Gut Bacteria blog posts - this is one of many).

There's been a lot of talk about our gut bacteria over the years. But in the ever-changing face of science, is it really that big a deal? Without a doubt … yes! In fact, ever more compelling science is emerging about our gut flora (also known as intestinal flora). Think of it as a universe of bacteria and other micro-organisms. This research is revealing ways the balance of this environment inside your digestive system not only deeply impacts your health, but also is connected to almost every other function in your body - including your brain.

Having and maintaining a healthy ecosystem within your gut is vitally crucial to fighting disease, healthy aging, and lifelong wellness. Nowadays though, intestinal flora (or gut bacteria) is called microbiota, and the biological system comprising these trillions of organisms is referred to as your microbiome. In other words, you have trillions of microbiota in your microbiome, which resides in your GI (gastrointestinal) tract, or gut.

You may have heard in popular media that your microbiota outnumbers your human cells at a ratio of 10:1. Newer research has put that figure at closer to 3:1 and even 1:1.3 But regardless of the exact ratio, you still have trillions of these microbial organisms inhabiting your body. So, just what exactly are they ?

(To be continued on the next post)