Clinical Definition

Flora are bacteria and other microorganisms that live on the skin and inside the body. The term refers most frequently to bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.

In Our Own Words

Flora are essentially tiny bugs, or bacterium, that live both inside the body and outside on the skin. Particular kinds of flora flourish quite normally in parts of the body, such as the nasal passages, the vagina and the bowels. In fact, thousands of different species of helpful flora sustain important roles in immunity, respiration and digestive health.

Current research is examining just how beneficial flora in your gut can prove in preventing inflammation, deficiencies and other conditions. The science is in its infancy, but the food industry is attempting to leverage huge potential benefits in the form of probiotics and prebiotics like kombucha tea.