The bacteria that live in a person’s gut can have a significant impact on their overall health. The type of food a person eats has the greatest impact on keeping these bacteria healthy. Following are some gut friendly foods:
• Vegetables, legumes, beans and fruits are the best sources of nutrients for a healthy microbiota in your stomach as they are high in fiber, which is digested by bacteria, and stimulates their growth.
• Fermented foods contain yeasts and bacteria that convert the sugars in the food to organic acids or alcohol and are highly beneficial to the gut. Examples of these foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha, among many others.
• A plant based diet is highly recommended for encouraging healthy bacteria in the gut with studies showing that a vegetarian diet can reduce levels of disease-causing bacteria in the stomach.