The microbes in our bodies are essential for our survival, and few microbial processes are as well known as fermentation. This process is famous for its association with the production of alcohol, but it also serves as a basic biological process in digestion. Different kinds of alcohol can be used for both practical and recreational purposes, so large-scale industrial fermentation is an important industry as well. Here are a few reasons why fermentation may be more important than you think.

Drinkable Alcohol

Humans have been utilizing fermentation for the purpose of drinking alcohol for a very long time. Though it would not be recommended nowadays, using alcoholic drinks as a main source of hydration is possible as it can be derived from a number of sources and it can remain sterile enough for drinking under conditions that would render water undrinkable. Alcohol's effects as a relaxant are of major importance to history as well, with beers, ales, and wines being among the most popular drinks at social gatherings across the ages. Nowadays, there are numerous independent microbreweries that have their own take on alcoholic beverages as well as standardized beer products that are sold in many places across the world. Culturally, alcohol is an undeniable part of human history.

Digesting Carbs

On a less glamorous note, fermentation specifically refers to a particular kind of process used by microbes to break down food with enzymes. This occurs throughout the gastrointestinal tract, but it is most pronounced where the concentration of these microbes is greatest. This decomposition is what allows your body to derive energy from your food and the gut flora that does this additionally synthesizes vitamins B and K, which are important to continue healthy bodily function. Different animals have different kinds of gut flora to deal with that animal's diet, but when it comes to humans, the total caloric absorption is relatively low. In contrast, cows and other ruminant species apply quite a lot of fermentation when they eat cellulose-heavy foods like grass. It is a fermentation that allows them to live off of the land eating grass and other shrubs in the way that they do.

Practical Usage

Microbial fermentation is an important industry in the world at large for practical reasons as well. Alcohol can be used to disinfect wounds, start fires, and in some parts of the world, ethanol is used as a renewable fuel source. There are different names for different kinds of alcohol, like ethanol (drinking alcohol), methanol (undrinkable wood alcohol), and isopropanol (rubbing alcohol). People will often "denature" alcohol to dissuade people from drinking it if that alcohol is intended for some other purpose, usually because drinkable alcohol is taxed as a beverage as it is not more useful a chemical than ethanol. The process by which this alcohol is produced can vary depending on the needs of the production facility, but different alcohols are different on a molecular level and so contamination between different kinds of alcohol can be a serious problem that can pose a major health hazard.

Fermentation is an important process, whether or not you drink. Living creatures are a veritable ecosystem by themselves, and there are all kinds of microbes that are important for our continued well being. If you are interested in the production of alcohol, be it for drinking or if you are interested in renewable energy, there are a number of different processes to follow for different kinds of alcohol, and knowing the difference between them is key. Unlike the production of inorganic chemicals, fermenting something requires living microbes to work with that require their own special consideration.