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| Your gut health matters a lot. A balanced gut microbiome helps your digestion to work smoothly, your body to absorb (and eliminate) nutrients, your inflammatory response to stay in check, and your immune system to stay strong. In fact, many diseases can be traced back to an imbalanced gut. |
| So, how do we make sure ours is in good shape? Gastroenterologist Saurabh Sethi is back with some simple diet tips. |
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Eat up!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
June 17, 2025 • 2.5 min read |
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| Q: |
What are the best foods for a healthy gut? |
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| A: |
The gut is often called the “second brain” because it’s connected to so many systems in the body. So it makes sense that what you eat can impact other bodily functions and your digestive health.
Diet influences the balance of good (probiotic) and bad gut bacteria. A diet rich in fiber (a prebiotic), for example, helps feed beneficial bacteria, promoting a healthy microbiome. And a well-balanced gut microbiome can boost immunity and even affect mood and mental health.
Foods high in processed sugars and fats, on the other hand, can promote the growth of harmful bacteria and lead to gut imbalances. And an unhealthy gut has been linked to autoimmune diseases, obesity, anxiety, and depression.
To create a gut health-friendly diet, I suggest prioritizing foods that are:
- high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which provide fuel for beneficial gut bacteria
- fermented like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, which contain probiotics that can support the growth of healthy gut flora
- rich in polyphenols, like berries and green tea, which can help reduce inflammation and protect gut cells
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| Saurabh Sethi, Gastroenterologist
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
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| What we’re digesting |
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