Our gut and the bacteria that inhabit it are really awesome. They work hard around the clock non-stop to keep us healthy. All while existing in almost a mini-universe of their own. Today I thought I’d share some of the top interesting facts about our gut bugs, just to give them some of the attention they deserve. Let me know if you’ve ever heard any of these facts, and if you’ve got a few to share!

1. Bacteria Are a Pretty Big Deal (literally)

We have between 10 to 100 trillion bacteria living in our gut. It was previously thought that they outnumbered human cells by 10 to 1, but recent research estimates they come closer to equaling our cells at a 1:1 ratio.
[1] [2]

2. They Talk to Each Other

Good bacteria don’t work alone; they need to work together in order to optimally perform their laundry list of functions. And the way they choose to do that is through a special form of communication known as Quorum Sensing. It allows them to detect and respond to each other.
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3. Our Moms Pass Them Onto Us

One of the greatest gifts a mother could give is bacteria. Too gross? Well, like it or not, mom had her own way of giving us some love. Her breast milk contained tons of good bacteria, which would colonize our young, fertile gut. These strengthened our immune system and helped us to mature. For those of us who were born vaginally, we also received yet another dose of friendly bacteria. Dr. David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain and Brain Maker, refers to this as a “microbial baptism”.
[4] [5]

4. Are Worth Their Weight

If you were to take all of the bacteria from our gut and weigh them together, they’d collectively make an average of 3 pounds, which is about as heavy as our own brain!
[6]

5. They’re Our “Alternative Fingerprint”

Imagine an alternative future where we use the gut as a form of identification. Well, that future may come sooner than you think! It’s been shown that we all have a unique “microbial fingerprint”, consisting of various combinations and concentrations of the trillions of bacterial species living within our gut.
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6. Theirs is a Diverse Species

Like a rainforest, our gut is home to a wide diversity of different species. In fact, more than 400 different species of bacteria have been identified in our gut!
[8]

7. We’re Not the Only Ones That Get Hungry

Who would have thought that we’re actually feeding trillions of bacteria when we’re eating? As if that wasn’t overwhelming enough, it turns out that gut bacteria have the ability to influence our appetite. The wrong types can even manipulate us into wanting sweets!
[9]

8. They Make Vitamins

Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients, meaning they must be obtained from food due to the fact that the body cannot make them itself. However, what is often forgotten is that bacteria manufacture a number of vitamins. These include Vitamin K2 and Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, and Biotin and Folate.
[10] [11]

9. Our Immune Cells Work With Them

Up to 70% of our immune cells live in our gut, so it’s only natural that they’d be rubbing elbows with our bacteria! Technically speaking, bacteria interact with T-Cells and influence how they respond during infections. In fact, many studies have shown a link between bacterial imbalance (dysbiosis) and disease, highlighting how important the bond is between bacteria and immunity.
[12]

10. They’re Warriors

Speaking of infection, bacteria aren’t all talk. They also walk the walk, fighting toe-to-toe with harmful bacteria, yeasts, and parasites. Think of them as warriors, with a set of superpowers. Bacteria compete for nutrients and make sure we’re not feeding the wrong kinds of bullies, and produce “by-products” that stop these guys dead in their tracts.
[13] [14] [15]

As you can see, bacteria aren’t just gross bugs that make us poop; they’re far more than one-trick-ponies. Which is all the more reason why they deserve some respect, and a bit of love! We’re their hosts, after all. But what do you think? Were you as surprised as I was once I started to learn about them?

Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4991899/
[2] https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-230X-9-85
[3] https://mbio.asm.org/content/9/3/e02331-17
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1462-2920.12238
[5] https://books.google.com/books?id=04edBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT126&lpg=PT126&dq=bacterial+baptism+perlmutter+brain+maker&source=bl&ots=4xEf4I3yt3&sig=IW_p7nGVsog445acDXTl4btuOXE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixjZjK4O3dAhVLw1QKHVUlAgEQ6AEIOTAH#v=onepage&q=bacterial%20baptism%20perlmutter%20brain%20maker&f=false
[6] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/microbes-the-trillions-of-creatures-governing-your-health-37413457/
[7] http://www.pnas.org/content/112/22/E2930
[8] https://mmbr.asm.org/content/62/4/1157
[9] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-tell-their-hosts-what-to-eat/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1492156
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4403557/
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3337124/
[13] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140312132632.htm
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5052746/
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26858424