The main task of the intestine is to absorb energy in the form of nutrients and water . In order for this absorption to take place, a well-functioning intestinal mucosa and optimally coordinated metabolic activity are required.
The intestinal mucosa represents the barrier between us and our environment. It is a protective barrier against external, harmful influences. If the intestine functions well, it decides what we absorb and what we don't.
If you spread out the intestine, you get an area of about 300 - 500 m 2 . The skin, in comparison, has an area of 2 m 2 . Due to its size and barrier function, the intestine is extremely important for our immune system . A large part of the immune system is located in the intestine.