Microbiome Therapeutics: What Foods Promote Gut Health?

Your gut microbiome is home to the many varied microorganisms that support a healthy stomach. Things like digestion, vitamin production, system regulation and metabolic function all rely on the right combination of bacteria, viruses, fungi and archaea.

It sounds more complicated than it is. Long story short: in order to both feel and heal their best, people need a wide, balanced variety of microorganisms working in their gut. 

Microbiome therapeutics are therapies dedicated to keeping that balance — most commonly through knowledge, awareness and a diet that includes the right ingredients.

How does your gut microbiome impact your overall health?

The gut microbiome impacts overall health by supporting digestion, aiding nutrient absorption and maintaining immune system regulation. It helps break down complex foods, produces essential vitamins and helps maintain a barrier against pathogens. A balanced microbiome supports metabolic health by regulating fat storage, glucose levels and energy levels as well. 

A healthy microbiome offers protection against infections and uncomfortable health conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases, allergies and autoimmune disorders. Maintaining microbiome health through a balanced diet, regular exercise, therapeutic action and educated awareness is recommended for anyone looking to boost their overall well-being.

How do you reset your gut microbiome?

In order to reset your gut microbiome, it’s important to focus on improving your diet through choices that promote the growth of healthy bacteria. The easiest way to accomplish this is through more fiber, more variety, more water and more fermentation. More specifically:

  • Increase your fiber intake. Consuming a variety of fiber-rich foods — vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains — promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Fiber acts as a prebiotic — an ingredient that feeds the good bacteria and helps them thrive.
  • Add fermented foods to your diet. Good bacteria loves Kimchi. And yogurt. Kefir, sauerkraut and kombucha, too. These foods contain live beneficial probiotics and good bacteria that help enhance the diversity and health of your gut microbiome.
  • Limit the sugar and processed foods you consume. High sugar and processed food consumption can negatively affect the gut by promoting the growth of harmful bacteria. Opt for whole, natural, non-GMO, unprocessed ingredients to maintain a healthy balance in your microbiome.
  • Add a little variety — and try to keep things plant-based. Diversity in the foods you consume leads to diversity in your microbiome. Aim to consume a wide range of plant-based foods to provide different types of fibers and nutrients for the good bacteria living in your stomach.
  • Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps maintain the mucosal lining of the intestines and supports the growth of good bacteria. Proper hydration is essential for overall gut health. In fact, it’s so important that we insist you go take a nice long drink of water right now.

What promotes the gut microbiome?

A healthy gut microbiome is promoted through a diet that focuses on therapeutic ingredients that are rich in fiber, probiotics and polyphenol. On the flip side, it’s important to avoid things that promote the growth of unhealthy gut bacteria — anything highly processed or sugar-rich.

What foods repair gut microbiome?

Foods that are best for repairing the microbiome are rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), rich in probiotics (yogurt, kefir, kimchi), rich in polyphenol (berries, nuts, seeds) and hydrating. At Botanic Innovations, we carry a number of natural, cold-pressed seed oils and powders that can be used in functional food formulations in order to benefit the gut microbiome.

Promote Gut Health with Botanic Innovations

If you’re developing a custom formulation and would like to make sure it has all the ingredients it needs to promote a healthy gut microbiome, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our R+D team and we can work together to deliver the performance and nutrients you’re looking for. Let’s get started!