Your stomach does more than digest food.
It could be the key to unlocking better health.
It can even get sick, which produces ripple effects of symptoms.
The GI system and gut microbiome have only recently come to the forefront of health discussions.
Read More:How Gut Bacteria Can Transform Your Health
What Is the Gut Microbiome?
Understanding what the gut microbiome is-and what it isn’t-can help you understand better ways to care for it.
you’re able to have an impact on your microbiome’s health, and here’s how.
These functions include digestion, nutrient absorption and energy metabolism.
More than 1,000 types of gut microorganisms have already been identified.
That number is likely to grow, however, as researchers better understand the gut microbiome.
The greatest shifts occur within the first two years of life, from infancy to childhood.
After age two, the gut microbiome stabilizes and remains largely unchanged until advanced age.
Not everyone’s gut microbiome is the same, nor should it be.
What Are Probiotics?
Two compounds, prebiotics and probiotics, are key players in boosting your gut bacteria’s health.
Probiotics are living microorganisms that live within certain foods.
It’s important to not buy pasteurized versions of these foods, however.
The pasteurization process heats and destroys the good-for-your-gut bacteria.
Probiotic benefits are not a recent discovery.
We now know that these fermented foods contain probiotics, beneficial bacteria for the gut microbiome.
What Are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are the precursors to the proper maintenance of the gut’s bacteria balance.
Prebiotics are nondigestible food compounds that microbes eat for better health.
In other words, microbes need prebiotics for fuel.
The more prebiotics in your gut, the more energy the gut bacteria have to grow and stay healthy.
Can What You Eat Create Better Gut Health?
Research shows that plant-based, fiber-rich diets boost the diversity of microorganisms in the gut.
Ultimately, the greater the diversity of the bacteria, the greater the beneficial outcomes.
The good news is, bacteria can be altered by diet alone.
That means you do not need to purchase over-the-counter high-dose probiotic supplements.
The benefits of eating for better gut health may occur rapidly, too.
More research is needed to duplicate and understand these findings.
The Bottom Line
Gut health matters.
And a more plant-based, fiber-rich diet is essential to maintaining the diversity-and health-of the gut microbiome.
Video: Easy, Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe
