The Unseen Heroes of the Immune System

There are, at any given time, between two and five ounces of bacteria bustling in your digestive system, constituting the largest part of the 'human microbiome.' However, don't squirm just yet! These unseen heroes are crucial for your health.

They aid digestion, stimulate the immune system, synthesize vital vitamins, and crowd out disease-causing bacteria.

The diversity and number of these bacteria also influence how much energy we can extract from our food and even our mood.

This microbiome, if considered a human organ, would be the second-largest, only surpassed by the skin.

However, this mutual beneficial partnership becomes harmful when the gut microbiota goes out of balance, often due to factors like stress, illness, or antibiotics overuse.

Disturbances in the composition of the microbiome are linked to a wide array of health issues, from obesity and diabetes to anxiety and depression..