Your body contains 100 trillion bacteria, but that’s a good thing

The human body is inhabited by bacteria and microorganisms — for every cell, there are around 10 resident microbes, which form on the surface of your skin, on your tongue, and deep inside your body. As research into the human microbiome continues to evolve, scientists are discovering how a person’s diet, physical and mental development, and resistance to disease can be affected by such microorganisms. In a revealing New York Times article, University of California professor Michael Pollan highlights the most recent research into the 100 trillion bacteria that help form our “metagenome” — explaining how our immune systems are shaped the minute we are born, why antibiotic use can lead to chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes, and illustrating how the microbiomes of rural inhabitants in West Africa are almost identical to the indigenous people of Venezuela.