Abstract
All of us have friendly bacteria all over our bodies. A large population of bacteria lives in our gastrointestinal tract, residing mostly in the colon (large intestine). This is known as our gut microbiota. Learn more in this 2-page fact sheet written by Wendy J. Dahl and Volker Mai and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, June 2011.
FSHN11-10/FS171: Go with Your Gut: Understanding Microbiota and Prebiotics (ufl.edu)
References
Dahl, W.J., K.E. Hagen, and T.A. Tompkins. 2009. Human microbiota and the role of probiotics. AgroFood Industry Hi-tech 20: 34-36.
Grabitske, H.A., and J.L. Slavin. 2009. Gastrointestinal effects of low-digestible carbohydrates. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 49: 327-360. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408390802067126
Penders, J., E.E. Stobberingh, et al. 2007. The role of the intestinal microbiota in the development of atopic disorders. Allergy 62: 1223-1236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01462.x
Roberfroid, M., G.R. Gibson, et al. 2010. Prebiotic effects: Metabolic and health benefits. Br J Nutr 104 Suppl S2: S1-63. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114510003363