Re: Yes, if you have the gut

Thank you, an excellent answer.

Perhaps you might have insight into my next question as well.

I have read from several sources that the microbiome can have drastic effects on an individual's metabolism and how they process food, for instance some studies speculate that the population and composition of the microbiome can dictate the amount of calories drawn from foods. I believe i read that this is true of animals, which is why grazing animals can get more energy from foods that would be of little to no caloric value to human beings or carnivorous animals.

So with that established, my question is, does it sound plausible that a person could wipe out many important species of their gut flora, damaging their microbiome to such a degree that no matter how much they ate they could not properly fulfill their energy requirements?
Or to a lesser degree, damage it to a point where they had a very difficult time converting food into energy?

Thank you for your time.

this question is also open to anyone who feels they have sufficient knowledge to answer. Tweet