Despite the bad reputation, bacteria in our gut can be very useful for our bodies. Over 80% of all bacteria that live on or in us can be found in our gut. There is scientific evidence that bacteria play a vital role in our well being. For instance, if there are imbalances in our gut bacteria, usually caused by antibiotics or a bad diet, we will suffer different consequences, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, or we will develop other conditions that are harmful to our health. Taking antibiotics can destroy the healthy bacteria in our gut (those that help different processes, such as synthesizing vitamins, or digesting fibre), so one way to prevent that is to take probiotics. They are living microorganisms, which naturally occur in some fermented foods, such as yoghurt. Probiotics help us by crowding out bad bacteria and creating a gut barrier which prevents harmful microorganisms from moving to other body parts. Probiotics also help us digest fibres and keep us healthier in general.
