One of the most amazing things about the human body is the fact that trillions of microscopic organisms have built elaborate ecosystems inside of us and these tiny communities interact with us in many symbiotic ways. Probably the most significant of these is our gut microbiome, where trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microbes help us regulate our digestive health and our immune system.
An imbalance of unhealthy and healthy microbes in the intestines may contribute to weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and other disorders, so it's important to feed the world inside our bellies the best food possible. Among the best foods for our microbiome are probiotics – fermented foods that stimulate robust growth of all these healthy microbes. Add a good variety of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains and you'll have the healthiest gut microbiome on the block.