The mammalian lower intestine contains up to 10¹² bacteria per gram of intestine. The normal microbiota* are essential to maintain appropriate homeostatic (balanced) conditions, providing energy in form of short-chain fatty acids and nutrients like vitamins K and B12., and protection against colonization by pathogenic bacteria. The bacterial flora accounts in great parts for the maturation of our immune system. They are tightly intertwined with the mucosal lining of the gut.
And we should not forget about the fact that the first sip we take in life consists of billions of bacteria. And we survive. So, they accompany us from the very beginning of our life without doing us any harm. Continue Reading →