The part of plants your body can't digest — but your gut microbes can.
Fiber
Fiber isn't nutrition for you. It's nutrition for the trillions of microbes living in your gut. In exchange, they produce compounds that feed the cells lining your intestine and shape your immune system. Fiber also slows digestion, which most people feel as steadier energy.
High-fiber foods
- · Beans and lentils
- · Oats, barley, whole grains
- · Berries, apples, pears
- · Broccoli, artichokes, greens
- · Nuts and seeds
There are two flavors of fiber: soluble (dissolves in water, forms a gel, slows things down) and insoluble (doesn't dissolve, adds bulk, speeds things through). Most whole plants contain both.
Something to investigate
Roughly how many different plant foods did you eat this week? Ten is a good start. Thirty is a rich ecosystem.