How to Improve Your Gut Bacteria

5. Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods

Over recent years, it has become more and more apparent that the modern Western diet—low fiber, high sugar, and high fat—has a detrimental effect on health. In relation to the microbiome, high levels of sugar have been shown to increase levels of bad bacteria in the gut and decrease the good bacteria, leading to inflammation and reduced function.

Highly processed foods lack many of the vital nutrients the body needs, including the fiber and probiotics that support a healthy gut. To maintain healthy levels of good bacteria, minimize your consumption of heavily processed foods and eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables and grains.