Feeding the Right Bugs

If bacteria help set your weight, you can shift the odds by changing what you feed them. The species linked to leaner bodies thrive on plants your own enzymes can't digest.

• Mix your plants. Different fibers feed different bacteria, so variety beats any single "superfood."
• Add fermented foods. Yogurt, kefir, and kimchi bring in live microbes and the acids that help them settle.
• Go slow. Ramp up fiber gradually so your gut and its bacteria have time to adjust.