Probiotics and prebiotics sound really cool and interesting. They may also improve the bacterial population in your gut.
And that matters.
Advertisement
Gut health obviously plays a role in digestion and overall digestive system function. But it goes deeper than that. Your microbial population – the microbiome – may also play a role in inflammation, chronic illness, disease risk, mood, heart health, and more.
Often overlooked in all of this is fiber. Fiber doesn’t have a cool name. It’s not particularly sexy either. Nor should it be – it’s essentially fodder for your microbiome. It’s the stuff in the food you don’t digest; it’s thrown away and fed to the trillions of bacteria residing in your gut.
But it helps them stay healthy and do a really good job.
Fiber not only promotes a healthy microbiome by acting as a prebiotic, but it’s also long been associated with better digestion and regular, high-quality bowel movements.
More recently, it’s been shown to have major influences on heart health and cholesterol.
It might be one of the most important things you can eat.
Yet Americans don’t get much of it all. The reason is that it’s not really in the things that make up the Standard American diet. It’s not in white bread, white rice, meat, or sugary snacks.
Fiber is in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, and nuts. But if you eat the recommended servings of those things each day, you’ll certainly hit the 28-35 gram per day target.
Advertisement
Most Americans get about half of that.
So, next time you’re at the grocery store and you’re loading a case of probiotic yogurt into your cart, ask yourself what will feed those organisms. Then head over to the produce section and load up on fibrous fruits and vegetables.
Your gut will thank you for it by likely improving your health.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
