France is known for its gastronomy, but what happens after food is eaten may matter just as much to scientists and healthcare professionals. A large-scale study of the French gut microbiome is under way to better understand the link between food, bacteria and long-term health.
An average adult carries up to half a kilogram of bacteria in their body, most of it in the intestines. These microbes develop shortly after birth and help digest food, breaking down fibre that the body cannot process on its own.
