THE HUMAN GUT hosts a vast colony of microorganisms, mostly bacteria. This colony outnumbers the cells in a human body by a factor of 10, and its metabolic activities are so important that gut bacteria are sometimes called a “forgotten organ”. They perform a host of useful functions, including helping digestion, training the immune system, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria, producing vitamins for the body and regulating appetite. Modern interference with the composition of this gut flora may play a significant role in the sharp increase in obesity and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
The best advice is to follow your gut instinct
Ciarán Quinn, Research Support Librarian & Librarian for the Research Institutes, Maynooth University. ciaran.quinn@mu.ie
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