Body Part: Digestive tract (Stomach, large intestine and small intestine)

Bacteria:

• Bifidobacterium (Biff-id-or-back-tea-ree-um)

• Lactobacillus (Lack-toe-bass-ill-us)

• Escherichia coli (Esh-air-rick-ee-ah coal-eye)

Job: These bacteria help us digest the food we eat. They break down the food so they can use its nutrition for themselves. But when they do this, they also make it easier for our own cells to take up nutrients, minerals, proteins and sugars. Some of these bacteria even produce vitamins that our body needs to function properly!