Feeding the Good Guys

Your gut bacteria eat what you eat. When you choose high-fiber whole foods, you feed the species that produce anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamins, and protective metabolites.

The most important fuel for beneficial bacteria is fermentable fiber, also called prebiotics. When gut bacteria ferment these fibers, they produce short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate — molecules that feed your gut lining, reduce inflammation, and even signal your brain.