Gut health is important for many reasons. Poor gut health can lead to stomach pain and discomfort, increased inflammation throughout a person’s body, and in extreme cases it can contribute to people developing various diseases, including cancer.
A recent study was conducted by researchers affiliated with various institutions in Italy and the United Kingdom that examined gut microbiome signatures of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. The study’s findings were published in the academic journal Nature Microbiology.
“Here we considered 21,561 individuals spanning 5 independent, multinational, human cohorts to map how differences in diet pattern (omnivore, vegetarian and vegan) are reflected in gut microbiomes. Microbial profiles distinguished these common diet patterns well (mean AUC = 0.85).” the researchers stated about their study.
“The aim of this study was to elucidate how prolonged dietary preferences affect the structure and function of the human gut microbiome at both the global and single-species level.” the researchers also stated.
What the team of health investigators ultimately determined is that whether someone is a vegan, a vegetarian, or an omnivore, the key to improving gut health is eating plants and plant-based foods. To be fair, vegans and vegetarians eat more plant-based foods compared to omnivores, so they typically have better gut health.
With that in mind, prioritize eating plants and plant-based foods. Try to eat them with every meal. I also encourage readers of this article to consider starting a home garden and grow their own veggies. In addition to helping burn calories and yielding tasty vegetables, maintaining a home garden has also been found to boost mental health.
To learn more about nutrition, check out the nutrition category on this website, which is populated with new content on a continuous basis. The same is true for our research category.
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Disclaimer: The contents of this article and this website are not meant to substitute for the professional advice of a doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer. This content is provided as an educational tool to help people on their fitness journeys. While we strive to research topics as much as possible and provide useful and accurate information to the best of our abilities, we also strongly recommend talking to your doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer before starting any workout, therapeutic, or nutritional regimen, as each individual’s needs and situations vary depending on the person.