France, Jan. 11 -- An average adult carries up to half a kilogram of bacteria in their body, most of it in the intestines. These microbes develop shortly after birth and help digest food, breaking down fibre that the body cannot process on its own.
Scientists now say this vast community of bacteria, known as the microbiome, plays a role that goes well beyond digestion.
"We really rediscovered the gut microbiome over the last 10 to 20 years as a forgotten, or critical organ - a part of our body that really counts for our health," explains Patrick Veiga, research director at MetaGenoPolis, a microbiome research lab near Paris.
A visit to the microbiome lab and more on the French gut microbiome in the Spotlight on France podcast:
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