The Other Factor

August 21, 2012

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People are mostly bacterial cells, and researchers are beginning to understand how those microorganisms can affect health — especially chronic disease, writes The Economist. Washington University in St. Louis' Jeffrey Gordon has shown that overweight people have difference bacterial flora than slim people and that malnourished people have different flora than well-nourished people. The microbiome's reach goes beyond nutrition and weight, The Economist adds, and may contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis and asthma.

http://www.popsci.com/science

Submitted by galt on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 17:14.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-09/fyi-how-much-bacteria-do-p...
"Enough to fill a big soup-can, that's 3 to 5 pounds."

There may be more bacterial cells, but they are tiny
so it's hardly a fair comparison.
It's like saying that elephants are mostly gnats because
there's only one elephant but dozens of gnats on it.

"difference bacterial

Submitted by galt on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 17:16.

"difference bacterial flora"

should be "different"

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