Does the bacteria consuming it not use the energy generated? How do we even process it? Like what does the bacteria give off or stomach do that our body converts into energy?
In: Biology
There is a key difference here between food (macronutrients) and micronutrients.
Food is energy and the symbiotic organisms do get their share. But, they also can process raw materials into useful micronutrients. Iron, for example, is a vital micronutrient, but as a hunk of metal, it’s not very useful to the body. Once it is oxidized into ions, it is very useful. The beneficial bacteria in your gut do things like this to give you the micronutrients you need.
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