The Conversation

Explainer: what is the gut microbiota and how does it affect mind and body?

Author: The Conversation USA

Probiotics are live microorganisms that have been delivering health benefits for thousands of years by helping to establish healthy gut microbiota.Belinda (miscdebris)/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

The human gastrointestinal tract harbours trillions of microorganisms, consisting of up to 1,000 or so different bacterial species.

These bacteria, known...

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