Several new lines of research are now linking gut bacteria to obesity. Scientists are finding that the microbes that call the human gut their home may play a role in body weight, metabolism and even cholesterol.What Are Gut Bacteria? The human gut is home to millions of microorganisms, collectively referred to as “gut flora” or “gut microbiota,” that coexist with us, helping us to digest our food, and perhaps even playing a role in keeping down inflammation, preventing heart disease and maintaining gastrointestinal health. Thus, researchers are discovering that the composition of a person’s gut flora—the different kinds of gut bacteria and their relative concentrations in each person’s...
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