The gut flora, or gut microbiota, plays essential roles in maintaining our health.

Gut bacteria help break down complex carbohydrates, fibers, and proteins that the human digestive enzymes cannot fully digest, producing nutrients like short-chain fatty acids that our cells can absorb and use for energy.

The gut flora communicates with immune cells and helps to train the immune system to distinguish between harmful and non-harmful agents, reducing the risk of autoimmune responses and infections.

Certain gut bacteria produce vitamins like vitamin K and some B vitamins for example.

Scientific evidence shows that the gut microbiota affects the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication network that links the gut and the brain and thus may have a positive impact by modulating neurotransmitters and hormones.

Beneficial bacteria compete with pathogenic (harmful) bacteria for space and resources, preventing the overgrowth of harmful microbes in the gut.