There is a large and diverse variety of microorganisms living in your gut. While
this might seem alarming, many of these microbes are actually beneficial for your health.
Gut microbes build resistance to disease; synthesize essential nutrients, such as vitamin K2, which is important for bone health, and create by-products, including short-chain fatty acids that support digestive health. The role of the gut microbiome (all the microbes, bacteria, viruses and fungi in the gut) is continuously being explored, with new findings rapidly developing.
The foods we eat – and don’t eat – have a major impact on the microbial composition in the gut. The microbes in our gut like to eat lots of diverse, high fiber plant foods.
Highly processed foods – often full of unhealthy fats, artificial sweeteners, and added sugar – are less likely to keep beneficial microbes around. Instead, they can invite in unhealthy bacteria.
Diets rich in whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables increase microbial diversity, leading to positive health outcomes, such as improved metabolic and immune function. By making food choices that allow gut microbes to flourish, you’ll naturally “crowd out” those processed foods that are less beneficial. Plus, the gut microbiome begins to change within just a few days of making dietary shifts – so it’s never too late to start feeding your microbes well!