Gut Microbiota

The vast and complex community of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses, residing in the human digestive tract. This ecosystem is fundamental to human health, influencing everything from nutrient absorption and vitamin synthesis to immune system regulation and neurotransmitter production.

A diet high in refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods can lead to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the microbiota characterized by a loss of microbial diversity and an overgrowth of pathogenic species. This imbalance can compromise the intestinal barrier (leaky gut), trigger systemic inflammation, and alter metabolic signaling, contributing to obesity and insulin resistance.