There are around 40 trillion bacteria in your body, most of which are in your intestines. Collectively, they are known as your gut microbiota, and they are hugely important for your health. However, certain types of bacteria in your intestines can also contribute to autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, the food that you eat greatly affects the types of bacteria that live inside you. 

How Can You Improve Your Gut Microbiome?

• Try eating a diverse range of foods: In particular, legumes, beans and fruit contain lots of fiber and can promote the growth of healthy bacteria.
• Fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut and kefir all contain healthy bacteria and can reduce the amount of disease-causing species in the gut.
• Prebiotics are a type of fiber that stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria. Try adding more artichokes, bananas, asparagus, oats and apples into your diet.
• Whole grains contain heaps of fiber and beneficial carbs like beta-glucan, which are digested by gut bacteria to benefit weight, cancer risk, diabetes and other disorders.
• Polyphenols are plant compounds found in red wine, green tea, dark chocolate, olive oil and whole grains. They are broken down by the microbiome to stimulate healthy bacterial growth.
• Try a probiotic supplement: Probiotics are live bacteria that can help restore the gut to a healthy state. They do this by "reseeding" it with healthy microbes.
• Take antibiotics only when necessary: Antibiotics kill many bad and good bacteria in the gut microbiome, thus, only take antibiotics when medically necessary.

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