You Are What They Eat: Your Gut Bacteria and Their Interactions with Your Diet
This presentation focuses on the interactions of our gut bacteria with our diet, and how their activities contribute to our overall health. It’s a great way to find out why you are what you eat. This presentation, in nontechnical language, deals with the estimated 30 trillion microorganisms that inhabit the human digestive tract. You will learn how these microorganisms, the majority of which are bacteria, is acquired and what factors determine the composition (types of species) of the microbial population. A major focus will be on how these microbes interact with one’s diet and how these activities influence one’s overall health. The prospects of manipulating the species composition to facilitate health care will be examined.
Target Audience
6-12
Sessions
This session is full.
Presenter
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UVic
Edward Ishiguro
Ed Ishiguro, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria. His research career, spanning over 30 years, identified the basis for bacterial antibiotic tolerance. A recipient of the 2005 Faculty of Science Teaching Excellence Award and the 2006 UVic Alumni Association Harry Hickman Teaching Excellence Award. Ed currently dedicates much of his time as a science communicator primarily to community audiences.