What exactly is gut health, and why is it important?
Your digestive system is full of trillions of microorganisms, which affect your health. (Photo: Getty Images) Right now, your digestive system is teeming with bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even parasites — all part of the gut microbiome, playing a bigger role in your health than you might think. It might sound a bit worrying that trillions of microorganisms call your gut if you grew up thinking all germs are bad. However, there are some “good” ones that actually protect your body from illness and disease. Mahmoud Ghannoum, a microbiome researcher and professor in the department of pathology at Case Western Reserve University, told Yahoo Life that the gut thrives on a wide variety of microbial species. If one type of bacteria can’t do its job, another species can step in and help. Ghannoum compared the diversity of the gut microbiome to that of diverse human societies. Each element has its own role, but everyone works together to keep society moving forward. A less diverse microbio