What Your Gut Bacteria Do to Your FOOD

Trillions of microbes live in your gut, and they are quietly eating parts of your meal you never could.

Your own enzymes cannot break down fiber. So what happens to all that roughage once it reaches your lower intestine?

It meets your gut bacteria, tens of trillions of them packed into your large intestine. They ferment the fiber your body gave up on, breaking it into short-chain fatty acids that feed and protect the cells of your gut wall. In the process they manufacture vitamins, including certain B vitamins and vitamin K, and they release gases like carbon dioxide and methane. They even produce chemical messengers that can signal your brain.

So your gut bacteria are not just freeloaders. Through this gut-brain connection, the microbes feeding on your dinner can influence your mood, making the question of what you eat partly a question of who you are feeding.

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