The bacteria in our gut break down the polysaccharides into simple glucose molecules, which can then be easily absorbed by our intestines. To summarize, they break down the compounds in our food that we can’t handle alone, transforming it into fuel that our bodies can use to power themselves.

Carbohydrates that aren’t fully absorbed in your small intestine get fermented by the bacteria in your colon. The bacteria break them down into gasses and short-chain fatty acids. The gasses cause intestinal gas, and the short-chain fatty acids cause fatty stools.

The whole population of bacteria in our bodies is called the human microbiota. The relationship between you and your gut bacteria is symbiotic. This means that both you and the bacteria benefit. Your bacteria receive a safe home and plenty to eat, and in return they help you break down food to get the nutrients that you need to survive and grow.