Understanding the human body is a team effort.
That's where the Yakult group comes in.
Researchers at Yakult have been delving into the secrets of probiotics for 90 years.
Yakult also partners with Nature Portfolio to advance gut microbiome science through the Global Grants for Gut Health,
an investigator-led research program.
To learn more about Yakult, visit yakult.co.jp.
That's Y-A-K-U-L-T dot C-O dot J-P.
When it comes to a guide for your gut, count on Yakult.
For Scientific American Science Quickly, I'm Rachel Feltman.
Over the last couple of decades,
few science topics have made a bigger mainstream splash than the microbiome.
Our growing understanding of the microbes that live on us, in us,
and around us has scientists analyzing and trying to tweak colonies from our armpits to our genitals.
But when most of us hear the word microbiome,
our minds go first to the diverse ecosystems found within our guts.
The communities of bacteria, archaea, viruses,
and fungi that live in our digestive tracts have a huge impact on us.
Research shows that our gut microbiomes influence how well we digest our food and absorb nutrients.
And an imbalance in the microorganisms of the gut is associated with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic liver disease.
Some research even suggests that our gut microbiomes are tied to cognitive function and mental well-being.