We will focus here on the ‘gut’ in terms of our large intestine, also known as our colon. Our colon is home to our gut microbiome and has several roles in digestion, including the absorption of water, electrolytes and vitamins. It is also responsible for forming stools (also known as poo) and moving them out of the body using muscle contractions.
The gut microbiome
Our gut microbiome is made up of thousands of different species of bacteria that live in our colon. Everyone has a unique gut ‘community’, which varies in both the type and number of bacteria. Each species has different functions and the balance of different types of bacteria regulates not just the functioning of our gut, but also how different food substances entering our gut are processed. But how does our diet affect our gut?