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The gut microbiome is a name given to the collection of trillions of microorganisms in our gut. They include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea. They are responsible for metabolism, immune system and neuroendocrine response. They help in digestion, nutrient absorption, waste removal, hormonal balance, managing cholesterol, communicating with the brain and much more.  How do they communicate with the brain, you might ask. The gut and the brain are friends and constantly talk via the gut brain axis. They communicate physically via the vagus nerve or chemically via hormones called neurotransmitters. Any change in one of the organs is detected...

Imagine you have just ordered your favourite pizza and are waiting for the delivery guy to arrive. Does your stomach start churning and your mouth start watering just by thinking about it? Digestion process starts way before we actually take our first bite.The bell rings and you rush towards the door to collect your order. You thank the delivery guy and make arrangements to start eating it before it gets cold. And then you take your much awaited first bite, and second bite and third bite. What happens next?The mechanical action of chewing the food combined with the chemical action...

Got a feeling you’re not alone? Forget alien life forms—we’re talking an altogether different kind of critter: the trillions of microbes that call your body home. The majority of these tiny creatures live in your gastrointestinal tract. But how did they get there? What do they do? What happens when they get out of whack? And what can we do about it? Welcome to the alien world of bacteria. Image source: ZEISS Microscopy / Flickr. Meet your microbiome WHAT ARE MICROBES? Trillions of tiny organisms—microbes—are all over, and inside, each of our bodies. They’re on our skin and genitals, and in...