Gut Bacteria
Gut Bacteria
In today’s world, many people have a very negative connotation when they hear the word “bacteria”. Bacteria have been the cause to many diseases, however bacteria do have some benefits and uses. There are thousands and thousands of different types of bacteria in the world and one group of bacteria, Gut Flora, has become evident in the bacterial community for being beneficial. Gut Flora is a group of bacteria that consists of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of animals. A healthy adult has around a trillion microbes of these bacteria in the gut. These bacteria have a vital role in the body and without them people probably would not survive. It is essential that people take care of their gut flora because a damaged gut flora has been the main cause of many diseases. Despite the fact that gut bacteria may have some harmful effects on humans and animals, the existence of gut bacteria within the intestinal tract result in the gain of many benefits for the bacteria and the host.
Bacteria can gain a lot from being in the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract provides a place for the bacteria to live and bacteria feeds on the food we eat, or on the compounds we produce. However, at the same time bacteria is frequently assaulted by things like antibiotic treatment, birth control pills, radiation therapy, constipation and a diet that is low in calcium, fiber, lactose and other complex carbohydrates, but high in meats, coffee, tea and alcohol (Intestinal Ecology).
It is very beneficial to have bacteria in the intestinal tracts, because the bacteria can close up the ecological space in our bodies, so that invading pathogens cannot get a solid foothold. Also some species in our guts can break down food in ways that we can’t, and synthesize certain vitamins and other compounds beyond human biochemistry (Zimmer 2). For example, herbivores carry a certain type of bacteria that can aid in the digestion of the otherwise indigestible cellulose. In
In today’s world, many people have a very negative connotation when they hear the word “bacteria”. Bacteria have been the cause to many diseases, however bacteria do have some benefits and uses. There are thousands and thousands of different types of bacteria in the world and one group of bacteria, Gut Flora, has become evident in the bacterial community for being beneficial. Gut Flora is a group of bacteria that consists of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of animals. A healthy adult has around a trillion microbes of these bacteria in the gut. These bacteria have a vital role in the body and without them people probably would not survive. It is essential that people take care of their gut flora because a damaged gut flora has been the main cause of many diseases. Despite the fact that gut bacteria may have some harmful effects on humans and animals, the existence of gut bacteria within the intestinal tract result in the gain of many benefits for the bacteria and the host.
Bacteria can gain a lot from being in the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract provides a place for the bacteria to live and bacteria feeds on the food we eat, or on the compounds we produce. However, at the same time bacteria is frequently assaulted by things like antibiotic treatment, birth control pills, radiation therapy, constipation and a diet that is low in calcium, fiber, lactose and other complex carbohydrates, but high in meats, coffee, tea and alcohol (Intestinal Ecology).
It is very beneficial to have bacteria in the intestinal tracts, because the bacteria can close up the ecological space in our bodies, so that invading pathogens cannot get a solid foothold. Also some species in our guts can break down food in ways that we can’t, and synthesize certain vitamins and other compounds beyond human biochemistry (Zimmer 2). For example, herbivores carry a certain type of bacteria that can aid in the digestion of the otherwise indigestible cellulose. In
Cited: "Appendectomy." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 19 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010 "Gut Flora." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 29 Mar. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora>. Kendall, A. I. "The Bacteria of the Intestinal Tract of Man." Science, New Series. 1076 ed 2008. Web. 26 Apr. 2010.