The functions of the large intestine include the absorption of [[1]] and salts from undigested food. 
 

The functions of the large intestine include the absorption of water and salts from undigested food. 

This aids in the concentration of waste material into faeces. 

A large population of gut bacteria lives in the large intestine and plays an important role in health by fermenting undigested carbohydrates. 

These bacteria also contribute to the balance of the gut microbiome or gut flora (the bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that inhabit an animal's digestive system are referred to as gut flora) and the overall health of the digestive system and the body.