GUT INSTINCT

While we collectively pride ourselves on our self-control, self-discipline, rational thinking and our ability to empathise — all facets of a Homo sapien or human being – we may be a little surprised to realise that technically human cells only make up around 43% of the body’s total cell count. The other 57% of cells? They belong to bacterial microbes that live primarily in the gut. Yep, that’s right — your gut is full of creepy crawly bacterial cells, making you more microbe than human. And, as scientists use genetics to uncover specific microbes that are actually present in the gastrointestinal tract and what they’re doing there, they are discovering that these microscopic bugs play an even larger role in human health that previously suspected. Here, I delve into the world of all things probiotics and microbiota to discover why everything from mood to muscle growth, weight to mental performance, and sleep to chronic disease is influenced by the bacteria that resides within us. Cue epic science-fiction music…