When someone is asking you about bacteria, what is the first thing you think of? Perhaps you were thinking of something that is gross or could get you sick? Maybe something that is bad and you should try to avoid?
The truth is there are bacteria everywhere! The human microbiome is full of bacteria inside and out, starting with the skin, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, and the digestive tract. These bacteria have what is known as a microbial symbiotic relationship. Humans also have natural bacteria that live on the skin known as "normal flora". These normal flora such as staphylococcus epidermidis, and diphtheroid are just a small percentage of microbial bacteria that inhabit the human microbiome.
The mouth contains specific bacteria that is designed to help digest food. The digestion process in the oral environment allows for the bacteria in the saliva to help break down some of the food and chew it down for further digestion. An imbalance of specific bacteria in the mouth could lead to oral diseases like tooth decay and gum disease.
The stomach microbiome has millions of microorganisms that live in the stomach and the digestive tract. The bacteria that inhabit this environment is known to help continue the breakdown process and to extract the necessary nutrients the body needs to function. It is important too keep the gut microbiome as healthy as possible. Dietary habits have been known to throw off the balance in this biome. Specific foods that are ingested into the body may introduce new bacteria that may be harmful to the to the environment and could get rid of some of the good bacteria that is in the gut to help breakdown the nutrients needed for the body. This will lead to pour gut health. Probiotic can be taken to help replace some of the good bacteria to have a healthier gut.
Unfortunately for germaphobes they will never be able to completely escapes the microbial world as there is bacteria literally everywhere. It is almost unavoidable to not come into contact with any bacteria on a day to day basis. You can wash your hands for 15 sec with warm water everyday to practice good hand washing practices and get rid of the bacteria on your hands, but you will not be successful in avoiding all of them.
Bacteria can be both beneficial and harmful at the same time! The bacteria that is in our human biome has allowed us to digest food and take up nutrients, but by introducing harmful bacteria through poor diets can actually eliminate some of the essential bacterial microbes causing poor gut health.
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