They help keep the gut lining healthy and regulate the immune system.
They also play an important role in effectively breaking down the food you eat, which the body then uses to create the chemicals it needs to function properly. These chemicals include small proteins, fatty acids, hormones and vitamins essential for supporting overall health.
It is not yet fully understood how the gut microbiome and the chemicals it helps create negatively affect heart health and the research continues.
However, it is now widely accepted that changes to the gut microbiome are directly linked to a higher risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.
Gut microbes require a diverse range of nutrients, so one of the best things you can do for your health is to have a diet full of a wide variety of healthy foods.
For example, some good food swaps for a healthier gut could be crisps for popcorn, sweets for dried fruit such as mango, dates and raisins, ice cream for frozen berries with live yoghurt or kefir and adding a tin of lentils to enrich family favourite meals such as bolognese or chilli.
To improve both gut and heart health, focus on a diet rich in fibre and containing plant-based nutrients and fermented foods whilst limiting ultra-processed foods and red meat, as ensuring a healthy gut microbiome can positively impact your heart health.
Additionally, adding a live probiotic supplement which contains Lactobacillus acidophilus and a good variety of strains can support your digestion, gut, heart and immune system by improving the balance of the gut microbiome.”
