5 ms·

That would be interesting - but, as the article says, the environment where you're living is also important.

manmal 13y ago
That's what they say, but I'm sceptical this is really the case. What do bacteria behind strong barriers (stomach acid, small intestine) care about external factors?
- jonsen 13y ago
  Bacteria does not form spontaneously from nothing. You have to get them from your evironment. In fact there is a constant inflow.
  - Florin_Andrei 13y ago
    And they enter the intestine at both ends.
- vacri 13y ago
  Basically everything you swallow comes out the other end. Not all bacteria are destroyed by stomach acid or other digestive juices. Bacteria are on most food - pretty much everything you eat is bringing new bacteria into your body. Some of them are benign, some can't handle digestion, some have to be dealt with by your body's immune system.
- Mz 13y ago
  I will add that heat, humidity, sea level, air pressure and on and on likely impact your internal biology more than you think. Anecdotally, I moved back to Southern California as soon as I was able because my health is better in this climate than in other places I have lived. Also anecdotally: People who get stationed in Antartica have really bizarre, unexplained things happen to them sometimes, like their fingernails get a lot thicker and weird stuff like that. As I understand it, it is not just the cold. It is also anomalous in terms of height above sea level and other qualities. I don't know the details. It was just a snippet that stayed with me from an interview of a medical professional who had been stationed there and remarked on how this weird stuff happens and they don't even really have studies or any idea where to start hypothesizing.
- Florin_Andrei 13y ago
  > strong barriers (stomach acid, small intestine) Just read this fun little page, and you'll re-think your stance on "strong barriers": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery

That's what they say, but I'm sceptical this is really the case. What do bacteria behind strong barriers (stomach acid, small intestine) care about external factors?

jonsen 13y ago
Bacteria does not form spontaneously from nothing. You have to get them from your evironment. In fact there is a constant inflow.
- Florin_Andrei 13y ago
  And they enter the intestine at both ends.
vacri 13y ago
Basically everything you swallow comes out the other end. Not all bacteria are destroyed by stomach acid or other digestive juices. Bacteria are on most food - pretty much everything you eat is bringing new bacteria into your body. Some of them are benign, some can't handle digestion, some have to be dealt with by your body's immune system.
Mz 13y ago
I will add that heat, humidity, sea level, air pressure and on and on likely impact your internal biology more than you think. Anecdotally, I moved back to Southern California as soon as I was able because my health is better in this climate than in other places I have lived. Also anecdotally: People who get stationed in Antartica have really bizarre, unexplained things happen to them sometimes, like their fingernails get a lot thicker and weird stuff like that. As I understand it, it is not just the cold. It is also anomalous in terms of height above sea level and other qualities. I don't know the details. It was just a snippet that stayed with me from an interview of a medical professional who had been stationed there and remarked on how this weird stuff happens and they don't even really have studies or any idea where to start hypothesizing.
Florin_Andrei 13y ago
> strong barriers (stomach acid, small intestine) Just read this fun little page, and you'll re-think your stance on "strong barriers": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery