Have you ever wished that you could simply swallow a pill and achieve good health? Life sure would be a whole lot easier wouldn’t it! Most of us chase that panacea for good health with fervor only to be disappointed time and time again. While it is not a “magic pill”, fiber comes close to solving a lot of our aliments. This seemingly innocuous substance is the cornorstone of vibrant health because it contributes to a healthy gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is defined as the microorganisms including bacteria, archaea and fungi that live in the digestive tract. Sounds gross, right! These microorganisms might sound disgusting but they are responsible for so many vital functions in your body especially digestion and immune system function. When our gut microbiome is not working correctly we develop symptoms like bloating, food sensitivities, diarrhea, constipation, joint pain, brain fog and fatigue just to name a few. A disorder of the microbiome has also been implicated in the development of many of the chronic diseases like coronary artery disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity that are causing so much pain and suffering in our country.

So how do we improve the quality of our gut microbiome? Well the answer is fiber! Fiber is abundent in the plant kingdom so eating a diet rich in plants will create a microbiome that promotes rather than destroys our health. Now we are not talking about fiber supplements like Metamucil but real foods like whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and fruits and vegetables of every variety. The diversity of your diet is also important so eating as many different types of fiber filled foods will increase the diversity of your gut microbiome thereby improving your health. If you are interested in learning more on this topic and diving deeper into the nitty gritty of your gut microbiome I highly recommend a book called “Fiber Fueled” by Will Bulsiewicz, MD, MSCI. This book is full of useful and practical tips to getting your gut microbiome in optimal shape. We workout to improve out muscular strength, why not eat in a way that improves our gut microbiome. It is equally important to your health and wellbeing!