Why Does Gut Health Matter?
Lisa Grentz, MS, RDN, CD/LDN, FAND
The gut contains billions of microbes that help break down food into nutrients the body can use. Many of the diverse array of bacteria and fungi in the intestinal tract are beneficial and necessary for a healthy body as they can impact mood, sleep, weight, chronic disease risk, and immune function.
Our gut microbiome is influenced by factors such as genetics, age, geographical location, antibiotic use, diet, exercise, and stress level. While not all of these factors are modifiable, we do have the ability to alter our diet to optimize the health of our microbiome.
Foods that help the gut thrive are those that contain prebiotics and probiotics.
· Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that serve as a food source to the microorganisms in our GI tract. Examples of prebiotic rich foods include banana, onion, garlic, asparagus, legumes, barley, and oats.
· Probiotics are living organisms found in foods, typically fermented foods. The food is fermented when the sugar is chemically broken down by yeast and bacteria. Examples of fermented foods include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, natto, and miso.
Eating a variety of prebiotic and probiotic foods supports a diverse and healthy gut microbiome.