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Dr. Kathleen Ireland Gregg

How Bacterial Communities are Linked to Body Weight

Updated: Mar 20, 2022

One of the most crucial parts of the body when it comes to health is the #microbiome or the trillions of bacterial that live in our gut. Scientists are learning that the bacterial communities that call us home are linked to everything from body weight to asthma to acne.


Having the right balance of bugs may keep us well in the long term since some bacteria in the gut are good for our health while other strains raise our risk for disease.



We shape our microbiome makeup through our everyday diet. Many of the foods listed here are high in nutrients like #fiber, which feed healthy gut microbes. They produce short-chain fatty acids that get absorbed into the bloodstream and reduce #inflammation while strengthening the #ImmuneSystem. These gut-friendly foods also contain probiotics or prebiotics which boost gut bacterial diversity.


Probiotics are bacteria that are very similar to or the same as good bacterial colonies already in our gut. Some probiotic-filled foods to consider adding to your diet include #Kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, #kombucha, miso, apple cider vinegar, and pickles (to get that healthy bacterial, buy pickles brined in salt-water, not #vinegar).


Prebiotics, on the other hand, are a type of #PlantFiber often found in vegetables that nourish good bacteria. Prebiotic foods include garlic, onions, bananas, apples, asparagus, and more.


Both are important for keeping you regular and building a better microbiome.


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