Tuesday, February 2, 2021 As we have all heard, the gastrointestinal tract (gut) is full of numerous types of bacteria. Some are helpful, some are harmful. For those of us who take probiotics and/or eat fermented foods, we know that we are working to increase the good bacteria in our guts. However, the bacteria in our guts impact more than just our digestion. In fact, research is showing that the bacteria in our guts may play a role in the development of a variety of diseases and may also impact how our bodies respond to disease. What’s more, some studies even suggest that different probiotics could be effective therapies for chronic diseases, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis.