I am now in stage 103 of my #zoechallenge and whilst await (with excitement) all my test results, I am looking to get a wider range of ‘plants’ into my daily diet. Plants actually refer to fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, herbs, spices and legumes and when you think of it like this, it’s actually a LOT easier to get the recommended 30 different types a week into your gut.
When it comes to plants, variety is key as different types of gut bacteria prefer different types of fibre. Therefore, the more different types of plants you consume, the more diverse your gut bacteria will be – and this is great as it makes you less likely to suffer from illness, infection and even stress! A 2018 review in the BMJ highlighted that lower gut bacterial diversity is linked to:
Inflammatory bowel disease
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Eczema
- Celiac disease
- Obesity
- Ulcerative colitis
So, I started today with a bowl of goodness, which included: banana, orange, apple, kiwi, grapes, blueberries, walnuts, chia seeds and Greek yoghurt. I am learning lots on @zoe and once I receive my test results, I’ll get personalised #ZOE scores which will accurately predict exactly how MY body responds to millions of foods and meals … I can’t wait!
