Ideas in this flowchart

• Nutrition and intestinal health contribute to overall human health.
• A proper diet helps maintain a balance of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
• Maintaining this bacterial balance can promote overall health.
• Recent scientific studies show that probiotic supplements positively affect intestinal microbial flora.
• Improved intestinal microbial flora can positively affect immune system function.
• Good nutrition influences immunity.
• Probiotic foods and other immune-system-friendly foods may help prevent illness.
• The chapter examines immune system function and all other organ systems in the human body.
• The chapter explains the process of nutrient digestion and absorption.
• Understanding digestion and absorption reinforces the importance of developing a healthy diet.
• The evidence supports the idea that food can indeed be “thy medicine.”