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When you think of your gut, you probably think of the major organs that reside there, like your stomach and large and small intestine. But your gut also houses some 500 trillion cells and other organisms. The microbial mix you end up with affects your physiology, metabolism, immune function, and nutrition. Researchers have come to view this aggregation of gut bacteria as a hidden metabolic “organ,” given its wide-ranging impact—some good, some not-so-good—on our health and well being. As scientists continue to probe further, certain changes in stomach bacteria have been linked to conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and even obesity.
