How does food impact the microbiome?

From Food to Microbes  As we know, what we eat has a large impact on shaping our gut microbiome. But, how does that work? Our digestive system transforms the leftovers of what can’t be fully digested (like fiber!) into by-products. By-products can be helpful, harmful, or somewhere in between. Helpful by-products are known as synbiotics.  This process starts in the mouth! For more on digestion, go here. Eating to Nourish the Gut Microbiome Since we don’t digest fiber and they pass through to the large intestine, the fibers we eat are consumed by gut bacteria. This process produces short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, acetate, propionate). These short-chain fatty acids pass through our intestinal cells and are then routed to the portal vein for passage to the liver. There is also communication to the brain during this process, allowing them to have systemic effects on the body. Intestinal cells use these by-products as fuel and for repair, helping to maintain a healthy, intact barrier. Short-chain fatty acids help with regulation of the immune response, regulation of mood and pain, reduction of inflammation (systemic and local), and regulating glucose stability and appetite. When we eat foods rich in plant-compounds and fiber we feed […]