iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll citlhscGut Bacteria at the Root Cause of Autoimmunity?
When the intestinal lining becomes compromised, gut bacteria that would
not otherwise cross the intestinal barrier enter the circulation and cause in-
flammation. It is also gut bacteria that damage the intestinal lining!
Your gut is home to 100 trillion bacteria, yeasts, and other microbes.
You actually have ten times more microbial cells than your own cells.
Emerging research shows the microbial balance in our intestines de-
termines our digestion, immune system balance, emotions, and overall
health status!
Bacterial Universe
Trillions of bacteria live in our intestines in an ever-evolving uni-
verse. In fact, the intestinal tract of most adults has anywhere from
300 to 500 unique bacterial species, many of which have not yet
been identified.
Of those species, about thirty to forty species are the predominant type
and account for 99 percent of the total population. Every individual’s
bacterial universe has been suggested to be unique, like a fingerprint.
As these bacteria are excreted in the feces, predominant species can be
measured in the stools.
The number and types of bacteria also vary throughout the intestinal
tract. Under normal conditions, the small intestine (the upper part of
the GI tract) hosts only a few species of bacteria and has a low number
of microorganisms as compared with the colon, which has the greatest
number of microorganisms.
Role of Bacteria in the Gut
Our unique resident bacteria support the development of our im-
mune system and determine the type of immune response that should
be initiated.
We have all heard of the normal flora—also known as “friendly,”
“commensal,” or “beneficial” bacteria—that live in our bodies in a
cooperative environment that benefits both their human hosts and
the bacteria themselves.
These bacteria utilize the resources provided by the body (e.g., foods
and a comfortable environment for reproduction) and in return pro-
vide us with benefits. They help us with the breakdown of undigested