Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

by Mary Roach

Once food prejudices are set, it is no simple task to dissolve them.

Nature will castigate those who don’t masticate’ may hold some truth,”

sugar itself doesn’t cause cavities; it’s the acidic metabolites of the bacteria that feed on the sugar.

Ancient man was omnivorous—a scavenger as much as a predator. Often enough, his steak dinner was shared with millions of potentially harmful bacteria. Thus the human stomach, unlike the ruminant’s, concerns itself with disinfection more than holding capacity.

every one cell of your body, there are nine (smaller) cells of bacteria.