Bacteria in the Gut May Play an Important Role in Inflammation and Disease

Most of the time we think of bacteria as being bad. Bacteria cause infections that make us sick. We spend millions of dollars a year on products that kill bacteria, not to mention that antibiotics are some of the most prescribed prescription medications in the world. But actually, some bacteria are good. As a matter of fact, we couldn't live without them.

We have more bacterial cells inhabiting our bodies than human cells. (It must have been a real pain to count all of them.) The good bacteria in our bodies help regulate digestion and keep us on a regular bathroom schedule. They are the most important aspect of stomach and colon health.

Good and bad bacteria work together to maintain a balance and keep us healthy. A few-years-ago, it was discovered that when there is a deficit of good bacteria in the stomach, the bad heliobacter bacteria can destroy the mucus lining that protects the stomach and an ulcer can result. It used to be that treating an ulcer could involve dangerous surgery and removing part of the stomach, but the accepted mode of treatment today is antibiotics and a couple shots of Pepto Bismol.

And let's not leave viruses out of this equation either. Through genetic manipulation, we have actually created a virus that kills cancer cells. It's pretty wild that one day a cure if you have cancer is to give you an infection.

Now new research has shown that bacteria may play an even more important role in your body's health. According to Medical News Today:

"Scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined." The findings were published in the online FASER Journal.

The scientists found that certain bacteria that reside in the gut play an important role in obesity and inflammation. These bacteria are also found in other lean mammals besides humans.

Finding out more about these organisms may pave the way for new treatments for such diseases as diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases.

"To make this discovery, the scientists studied normal mice and mice deficient in TLR2 using the large intestinal lining of these mice. They compared the TLR2-deficient ones to the normal group, as well as the bacteria."

TLR2 stands for Toll-like receptor 2, a receptor that recognizes the bacteria found in the gut of lean mammals and humans. TLR2 may eventually be a drug target for use in the war against obesity in this country, a war that we are losing fast.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213778.php