Our gut develops a distinct mix of bacterial species that are determined by what bacteria live in and on those around us.

The 100 trillion microbes in the gut do much more than just regulate digestion and metabolism. "They extract and make vitamins and other nutrients from the food that you eat. They program the body's immune system and build and maintain the gut wall, which protects the body from outside invaders."

The gut plays a vital role in the overall health of the human body. And because it is so important to our wellbeing, we should treat it with care.