The appendix contains good gut bacteria. It serves as a storage unit for flora that can repopulate the small intestine after a bout of diarrheal illness or other gastric distress. It may also help people who deal with the negative effects of gut bacteria, such as sugar cravings or illness, by essentially rebooting the digestive system. In addition, the gut contains a mucous layer, called a biofilm, that lines the entirety of the organ. This film aids in digestion and provides a layer of protection to the gut. The appendix manufactures the mucous from which the biofilm is made.

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