Food – a powerful tool for shaping the microbiome
A healthy microbiome is linked to many health benefits, such as:
- Better digestion: healthy gut bacteria help break down food and absorb nutrients.
- Enhanced immunity: most of our immune system is based in the gut, and a healthy microbiome helps control inflammation and protects us from infections.
- Improved mental health: there is increasing evidence of the links between the gut microbiome and mental health.
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases: a healthy microbiome is associated with a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.
Mounting evidence shows that a diverse and well-structured gut microbiota is essential for staying healthy. Dysbiosis – reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiota – is most commonly associated with obesity, diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Diet is the driving force in determining the composition and function of the gut microbiota. There is growing interest in directing the gut microbiota through diet and nutritional approaches promoting gut health.
The foods we eat have a major influence on our microbiome and therefore our overall health. By choosing a varied, plant-based diet rich in fibre, probiotics and prebiotics, we can build a healthy microbiome and improve our health.
To learn more about specific foods and their effects on the microbiome, read the following article:
“Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health”
“Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health”
Zhang P.Influence of foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for intestinal Healt.Int J Mol Sci.2022 Aug 24;23(17):9588.doi:10.3390/ijms23179588.PMID: 36076980;PMCID:PMC9455721.
