These superfoods for gut health include:. Research indicates that high fiber foods have a positive impact on gut health. These foods include:. According to a study in rodents, garlic may increase gut microbiome diversity and improve gut health.

A small study of 49 people similarly found that aged garlic extract increased diversity and levels of beneficial bacteria. Still, more research in humans should be done. Fermented foods are great dietary sources of probiotics. Examples include:. Research suggests that consuming these foods may improve the gut microbiome.

Collagen-rich foods such as bone broth and salmon skin may be beneficial for both overall health and gut health.

A study indicated that supplements with collagen may benefit the gut microbiome in mice, though further research is needed. To help your body make collagen, try eating more:.

Each of these elements varies in different people, influencing their gut microbiomes in different ways. This variation results in individuals having unique gut microbiomes. According to one small study of 16 people, fasting was linked to lower levels of a bacteria that promotes colorectal cancer.

Research in animals also shows the benefits of fasting. A study in fruit flies found that intermittent fasting appeared to improve gut health and increase lifespan.

Another study in mice indicated that fasting promoted the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and reduced inflammation in the intestines.

Some studies have found no impact of probiotics on the gut microbiome. Still, other research suggests that probiotics may significantly affect the makeup of the gut microbiome and positively impact other areas of health, like immunity.

You can improve your gut health by taking steps to improve your overall health. This can include eating more fiber-rich foods, eating fewer ultra-processed foods, getting enough sleep, and managing your stress levels.

Some signs of unbalanced gut bacteria can include upset stomach, unintentional weight changes, and fatigue. The human gut is complex. While research is ongoing, it seems clear that the gut microbiome impacts whole-body health.

A healthy gut contributes to:. Lifestyle and dietary changes may positively affect not only your gut health but your overall health.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. MindBodyGreen provides third-party-tested supplements made with high quality ingredients.

Our testers and dietitians discuss whether MindBodyGreen…. Vitamins are for athletes to stay healthy. You may get all you need from the food you eat. Some athletes may benefits from vitamin supplements. Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is a type of omega-3 fat that may improve many aspects of your health, from your brain to your heart.

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A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Signs of an Unhealthy Gut and What to Do About It. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Megan Dix, RN, BSN and Erika Klein — Updated on January 29, Gut microbiome Effect on health Signs of an unhealthy gut What to do Foods for gut health FAQ Takeaway Poor gut health may manifest as fatigue, upset stomach, skin conditions, and autoimmune challenges.

What is the gut microbiome and why is it important? How does the gut microbiome affect your health? Frequently asked questions.

How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Jan 29, Written By Megan Dix, RN-BSN, Erika Klein. Medically Reviewed By Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C.

Jan 11, Written By Megan Dix, RN-BSN, Erika Klein. Share this article. Read this next. Malanga Health Benefits and More. Probiotics add to your gut microbiota, the collection of trillion or so bacteria and other critters living in your gut.

Having a healthy microbiota may help foster a healthy immune system and reduce damaging inflammation in the body. Eating probiotics regularly may also help to prevent the intestinal environment from being overrun by unhealthy bacteria, which have been linked to everything from mood disorders and obesity to diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

But probiotics are much like pets, says Fung. This means feeding the population of microorganisms with prebiotics — foods that will help all of these desirable gut bugs grow and thrive inside your digestive tract.

Everyone has a unique mix of microorganisms living inside them. Some of these come from your mother, conferred during pregnancy, delivery, and, potentially, breastfeeding. Others are introduced by the foods you eat, and your environment. Probiotics found in fermented foods and drinks — such as yogurt, cheese, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut — can add desirable organisms to your gut.

But not all varieties of these foods have probiotics; it depends on how they are processed. Sometimes foods that naturally contain probiotics are then cooked or heated, killing the microorganisms and any potential health benefits along with them, says Fung.

Try adding them into one or more daily meals for the biggest benefit. Sip a yogurt smoothie for breakfast, or put a forkful or two of sauerkraut alongside your sandwich at lunch. Research has shown that a traditional Western diet — heavy on fat, sugar, and animal meat — creates a toxic environment for healthy microbes and can even change the proportion of different types of bacteria inside your body, she says.

In short, your healthy gut microbes will suffer on a diet of hot dogs and French fries. What beneficial bacteria love, says Fung, is fiber. When fiber enters your digestive system, enzymes from the microbiota help to break it down, producing substances called short-chain fatty acids.

Experts think that having more of these fatty acids changes the pH inside your colon, making it less hospitable to some damaging types of microorganisms. Vegetables and fruits also contain healthy fiber.

Other good prebiotic sources include garlic, bananas, onions, asparagus, and seaweed. Over all, the goal should be to make sure your diet contains a good balance of probiotics and prebiotics. If you feed your gut well, it may repay you in better health. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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It has been observed that people who follow a diet rich with fruits and vegetables are less likely to grow disease-causing bacteria. Some great examples of vegetables that feed your microbes are:. If you eat too many simple sugars too regularly, you run the risk of literally starving your microbiome to death.

Additionally, hungry microbes will resort to munching away at the lining in your intestine, which can lead to inflammation. Try to alter your diet to include more foods with complex sugars, to ensure a happy and healthy microbiome. Also make sure you keep out an eye for dreaded hidden sources of monosaccharides.

Sugar can sneak into foods you would never expect them to be. Keep an eye on sugar levels in things like smoothies, nut butters, protein bars, salad dressings and even in a gut-favourite… yogurt!

Probiotics are chock-full of live bacteria that will help ensure your gut is populated by mostly the good types of microbes. You can get a good probiotic supplement at your local health food store, however, make sure you ask your doctor what strains of cultures are best for you, and the condition you are trying to treat.

There are many probiotic products out there that claim to have live cultures but do not, so it is important to do your research beforehand and speak to a registered dietitian or health care professional about choosing a probiotic that is right for you.

Antibiotics work buy wiping out any and all bacteria, which makes them very effective for treating illnesses, but very bad for your microbiome. The antibiotic cannot recognize the difference between good gut bacteria and bad bacteria.

Try to buy meat products that were raised without antibiotics, and if you do have to take an antibiotic, make sure to take a probiotic daily for the duration of your prescription to help replenish your gut bacteria. Prebiotics are food for your microbiome!

Here is a list of dietary prebiotics that should be staples in your home kitchen:. Fermented foods are another great source of probiotics. There are several other options that are a great source of good bacteria. A study found that athletes had a larger variety of gut flora than nonathletes.

However, the athletes also ate a different diet to the control group, which could account for the differences in their microbiomes. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults engage in at least minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week, along with muscle strengthening activities on 2 or more days each week.

A animal study indicated that irregular sleep habits and disturbed sleep can have negative outcomes for the gut flora, which may increase the risk of inflammatory conditions. Establish healthful sleep habits by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. Adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

Just as antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiota, so too can disinfectant cleaning products, according to the results of one study. The research analyzed the gut flora of over infants ages 3—4 months.

The researchers found that those who lived in homes where people used disinfectant cleaning products at least weekly were twice as likely to have higher levels of Lachnospiraceae gut microbes, a type associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

At age 3, these infants had a higher body mass index BMI than children without exposure to such high levels of disinfectants. Smoking affects gut health as well as the health of the heart and lungs.

It also greatly increases the risk of cancer. A review of research published over a year period found that smoking alters the intestinal flora by increasing potentially harmful microorganisms and decreasing the levels of beneficial ones.

These effects may increase the risk of intestinal and systemic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease IBD.

Studies have demonstrated a significant difference between the gut microbiomes of vegetarians and those of people who eat meat. For example, in one small study , people with obesity followed a strict vegetarian diet that eliminated all animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs, for 1 month.

At the end of the study, the participants had lower levels of gut inflammation due to the altered types of gut microbes. They had also lost weight. By making appropriate lifestyle and dietary changes, people can alter the diversity and number of microbes in their gut for the better.

Positive changes a person can make include taking probiotics, following a fiber-rich vegetarian diet, and avoiding the unnecessary use of antibiotics and disinfectants.

Other simple lifestyle changes a person can make include getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. However, a person should talk to their doctor before making any drastic changes to their diet. This is because for some people, such as those with irritable bowel syndrome or other medical conditions, probiotics and fiber-rich or vegetarian diets may not be helpful.

The gut microbiome affects many aspects of human health, and the foods people eat can have a huge impact on the bacteria in their gut. Learn about the….

Probiotics foods contain live, healthful bacteria that may help promote better gut health. In this article, we list the best probiotic foods and ways…. The microbiome diet aims to promote good bacteria in the gut. Learn if it works, foods to eat, foods to avoid, and the pros and cons.

The tens of trillions of microbes that live in the gut have some important implications for health, but do you know what they are? We investigate. Probiotics may benefit overall health as well as gut function. Here are some vetted products to try. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health?

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Jayne Leonard on May 28, Probiotics and fermented foods Prebiotic fiber Eat less sugar Reduce stress Avoid taking antibiotics Exercise Sleep Avoid disinfectants Quit smoking Vegetarian diet Summary.

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Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? Microbiome resources For more research-backed information about the microbiome and how it affects your health, please visit our dedicated hub. Take probiotics and eat fermented foods. Share on Pinterest Kimchi may help improve gut health.

Eat prebiotic fiber. Eat less sugar and sweeteners. Reduce stress. Share on Pinterest Sleep deprivation can negatively affect gut health. Avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep. Use different cleaning products.