This weeks readings were interesting because they provided more information about how the gut microbiota is changed due to different factors that relate to how we live and what we do. The choices that we make in terms of nutrition and the way we live determine the microbiota that takes residence in our guts.
I think a lot of the way that I live influences the microbiota and consumption of different products also affects it as well. I for one take probiotics which could influence the microbial community because it is the ingestion of live bacteria. I started taking the probiotics to see if it could help the various stomach issues that I have. I would say that I probably do not have the best nutrition which could harm the microbial community and make it work against my body instead of with my body. I am not a huge fan of things like yogurt so I do not obtain many prebiotics from my food which could decrease the ability of the probiotics to work and be utilized in the body. I also take antibiotics when they are prescribed by my physician which could harm the microbial community by trying to get rid of the “bad” bacteria which subsequently gets rid of the “good” bacteria as well.
I am unsure of any unintentional choices that can induce a change in the microbial community that I house. While I do not know if the environment in which we live affects the gut it may have an effect on the microbial community (possibly).
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