Over the course of a very long time, our
immune system has developed a working
relationship, an alliance of sorts, with some of
these bacteria. Their presence does not trigger
an immune response—they’re considered
trusted friends, and are a vital component of a
healthy human body. We consider them our
BBFs (Best Bacterial Friends), and we’d
rather go without our big toes than give up
these “friendlies”—they are that important.
Our alliance with these friendly bacteria is
largely what helps regulate our delicately
balanced immune activity. These bacterial
undercover agents hang out in the intestine
just outside the door to Club Body, helping
your security staff by discouraging the bad
guys from loitering and starting trouble.
Friendly gut bacteria help us digest our food,
absorb micronutrients, manufacture vitamins,
stabilize immune function, and generally take
up space that would otherwise be snapped up
by pathogenic bacteria.