- Break down nutrients
- Break down medications
- Protect against disease-causing germs
- Keep your gut lining healthy
- Influence your immune system
Dysbiosis happens when the bacteria in your gut become unbalanced. This can cause digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, along with allergies and even brain disorders.
But the way bacteria affect your weight is still not fully understood. One study done on sets of twins found that those who were obese had less diversity of gut bacteria compared to those who were lean.