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What is gut health?

You may have heard about probiotics and prebiotics — and that your gut health is important for good health. But what’s it all about?

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic living things are called microbes — what many people call “germs.” We’re used to thinking of germs as something to avoid. But the truth is that we’ve evolved for millions of years to live with microbes in and on our bodies. You actually have around 40 trillion bacterial cells in and on you.

Not only did we evolve to live with microbes, but we actually can’t live without them. “Good” microbes living in your digestive tract (aka your gut) help you digest and process the food you eat. Your gut germs are called your “gut microbiome,” and they play an important role in your health.

Keeping your gut healthy is a great way to boost your physical and mental health. And the good news is that you can eat your way toward a healthy gut.

How food can help your gut health

The food you eat affects your gut microbiome. The fun part is that this isn’t just about what not to eat — you can affect your gut health by what you do eat.

Here’s what you need to know:

Probiotics are foods with good germs in them (specifically, good bacteria)
Prebiotics feed your good bacteria, keeping them working for you
Foods with probiotics and prebiotics support a healthy gut, helping to prevent inflammation and other intestinal problems

Gut-healthy foods

Ready to start eating for gut health?

Here are some fermented foods that are rich in probiotics: