06/04/2026
Your gut has been quiet for a while. Do not mistake that for happy.
There are hundreds of bacterial species living down there, and they do not all eat the same thing. Some want the fiber in oats. Some want beans, or leeks, or berries, or seeds. Feed it the same two or three plants on repeat and you keep a small loyal crowd fed while the rest of the room sits there, unimpressed, taking notes.
The American Gut Project found the strongest predictor of a diverse, resilient microbiome was not how many grams of fiber someone ate. It was how many different plants they ate in a week. The number to aim for is 30.
Winning your gut back is easier than the grudge suggests. One new plant in something you already make. A different bean in the soup. Seeds on the yogurt. An herb you would not normally buy. Range is the whole game.
Save this and count your plants this week. Tell me your number in the comments. Your gut is watching.