3 gut health rules you shouldn’t ignore, from a doctor

Yes you probably know fermented foods are superb for gut health – we’re not exactly reinventing the wheel here. However, Pedre says you might want to start prioritizing fermented foods. on fiber-rich foods if you have an unhealthy gut.

It refers a study1 in which researchers measured microbial diversity in people who ate five to eight servings of fiber a day, compared to those who ate six cups of fermented foods a day. “What [found] is that a diet of highly fermented foods increased microbial diversity in this group and lowered 19 inflammatory markers,” he explains. The high-fiber group found positive effects on microbial function and immune response, but interestingly, fermented foods have such a significant effect on inflammation.

For the record, that doesn’t mean you should throw fiber to the curb. “I hate that they nicked fiber rich [foods] against high fermentation [foods]. I think there should have been a third group where there was no dietary intervention, so we could see those two against that as well,” says Pedre. “But it’s starting to raise some really good questions here, because I don’t think it’s fiber versus fermented. It’s really a combination of the two.

Moral of the story? You may want to increase your intake of fermented foods Before you’re filling up on fiber, so you can reduce inflammation and increase microbial diversity before feeding those healthy gut bugs — just remember that both food groups are ultimately important for overall gut health.