“Life would not long remain possible in the absence of microbes.”—Louis Pasteur
What are Gut Bacteria?
No! Not those “bacteria” or microbes infecting the food sitting around outside for days.
Which bacteria are we talking about then? Let’s talk about the bacteria who are with us as true friends life long. They are the internal health provider and this blog will share who they are and what they do so we care for them. Here you go…
“Gut bacteria, (also called Gut flora or gut microbiota, gut microbiome) are the microorganisms including bacteria, archaea and fungi that live in the digestive tracts of humans and other animals including insects “.
Gastro Intestinal (GI) track is represents one of the largest area (250-400 meter square. They process around 60 tons of foos in the entire life time. Quite a large machine. Lining with this system 300-500 kinds of different bacteria containing 2 million genes along with virus and fungi occupy the entire space.
The Gastro intestinal (GI) Track- The Bacterial Residence
This complex system of organisms are called microbiome or microbiota. The largest portion of microbiome live on large intestine and are called “gut microbes”.
Can You Imagine How Many Are there?
3 4 trillions live only on large intestine. A trillion is 1,000,000,000,000, also known as 10 to the 12th power, or one million million. Just a lot.
They weigh around 4 pounds, compared to the skin which is the largest organ of the body weighs 8 lbs for an adult.
There are good and bad bacteria. A well balance gut ecosystem comprises a larger number of health helping vs. bad bacteria. A diverse set of gut microbiome offers better health. The diversity naturally decreases as you grow old and also if you have disease (s).
The gut with its microbiota assembly is separated from human organs by gut line. This important lining should be intact to provide toxin free nutrients to your body. Ideallly in a healthy condition they just don’t spread inside in to the organs.
Any leakage in the gut line can contaminate toxins to your body and can create hovac.
Where Do They Come from and how do They Influence Your Health?
Where Do They Originate From?
The originate and transferred from your mother during the delivery, your microbiome diversity is more if you were born naturally delivery compared to cesarean delivery. More diversity is seen among the breast fed vs. formula fed infants. After that the gut is shaped up as you grow based on your life style, environment and other factors.
You Carry Your Unique Bacterial Signature.
Each individual is unique carrying the signature of their assembly which is different from others. Your bacterial composition as a healthy person (you) is different than if you have a disease or two. The microbial diversity decreases as you get older.
How do They Survive?
We coexist. We are interdependent.The human are the host and the entire microbiome assembly eat by sharing our food from the same table (commensalism). If you eat healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner (gut healthy food) you get a bigger treat in regard to your health from your gut. Here they are.
What do They do in Return?
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- Better Immunity: The good bacteria protect our body from pathogens building of a better immune system.
- Better Digestive Health: They help digestion, alleviate indigestion, stomach pain, bloating and gas filled stomach.
- Influence Your Body Weight: The gut bacteria line with intestine and come in contact with the food you eat. There are specific good bacteria that can digest fiber which human can not. This process produces number of chemicals that may promote weight while improving gut health.
- Better Mental Health: The gut bacteria talk with Brain (Gut brain axis) and produce important hormones. 90% of the serotonin and 50% of the dopamine (the happy hormone) along with several others. That’s how they control the mood swings, manage stress and anxiety, help neuro development, help in your memory and cognition.
- Produce Vitamins: They produce vita K and B vitamins. They also make vital nutrients and chemicals that are used by the body.
- Protect or Reduce Cancer: The bad microbe can trigger and induce damage the DNA which can result in prostate and colon cancer.
What Does “Ayurveda” Say About Gut Health?
Ayurveda says “ Sarv Roga Malashara” means root causes of all the diseases is not having a good gut health.
How Does a Good Bacteria Go Bad or Vice Versa?
There are several reasons a good bacteria can change its nature. These are the major factors.
- Host genetics
- Consuming antibiotics
- Dramatic change of diet
- Life style
- Stress
- Infection
- Old age
Maintain a diet rich in fiber, vegetables and fruits. Incorporate exercise and manage stress of the current society. Sleep 7-8 h. Drink plenty of water. These will improve the good bacteria in the assembly.
Names of the Good Gut Bacteria
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Other Lactobacilli
- Bifidobacterium Bifidum and Breve
- Streptococcus Thermophilus and Salivarius
- Streptococcus Thermophilus and Salivarius
- Bacillus Coagulant
Can You Live Without the Microbes?
“Life would not long remain possible in the absence of microbes.”—Louis Pasteur
Human is evolved with microbes. They are born with them, live with them, die with them.
What will happen to life without microbes? Study shows animals made germ free show smaller organs, poorly developed immune system and smaller lymph nodes. Bacteria adds more life to the living.
Summary
Trillions of Gut bacteria reside on human gut. The vital interdependency with the host results in spectacular and powerful health consequences. This remarkable no-harm coexistence offers important mental and extensive physical health benefits
We do care because they
- Help in digestion
- Help in immunity
- Help in keeping up with the mental health
- Help protect us from pathogen
along with multiple other benefits.
The life will slow and possibly extinct without them. Do everything to maintain a great healthy microbiome assembly. And thus a healthy gut.
Hello there! Thank you very much for sharing this article on what are gut bacterials. I’ve gone through it and it’s a very detailed one. I find it educative too because it contains valuable information one can hold on to. I had no idea that there are good bacteria’s just as we have bad ones. The good bacteria has a lot of benefits in the body, that’s impressive. Thanks for this eye opener.
Hi Sophie,
I am glad that you got some knowledge about gut bacteria which is considered as a virtual organ. It is emerging science and the knowledge behind this will help help us how to stay healthy. I am happy that this post was an eye opener for you.
Wow, I actually never knew that much about gut bacteria. You would think that with all they do and how much there are, it would be a more generally known health detail. Being aware of something like this within your own body gives you a bit more insight as to how you could take care of yourself. It’s like a trillion little companions that count on you as much as you count on yourself. When you eat healthy, so do they. Maybe that’s a good way for a person to encourage themselves to eat healthier.
Hi Chris,
I am glad that this article gave you some vital information. The trillions live on you and you live on them for your health. Our life will extinct without them. They eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with us. If we eat gut healthy food, we will be healthier naturally.