The gut is home to a huge colony of bacteria we call a "microbiome." It helps us break down the foods we eat. Because these bacteria support our health, we want to make sure the microbiome is healthy, too. Let's take a moment to learn how to support gut bacteria.
The first thing you can do to support the microbiome is to eat foods the bacteria really like. These foods are known as "prebiotics." Apples, bananas and berries are all prebiotics. Oats and sweet potatoes are, too. And so are carrots, flax seed and garlic.
The second thing you can do is to add more living bacteria right into your gut. You do this by eating foods known as "probiotics." Yogurt is a popular choice. You can also try fermented foods. These are things like pickles and sauerkraut. You can also try kombucha and kimchi. And certain cheeses are probiotic, too.
Keep in mind that the foods that support your gut bacteria cause excess gas and other problems for many people. So be smart. If you aren't used to eating a certain food regularly, add it into your diet slowly. Make sure it doesn't cause any issues for you. For a more complete list of prebiotic and probiotic foods, talk to your doctor.