
While your microbiome is invisible to the naked eye, "it contains 70% to 90% of the cells in your body. Just 10% to 30% of the cells in your body are actually human," says Perrine. So it's no wonder the microbiome exerts a powerful influence. Our bodies rely on it for help with "everything from digestion and immunity to regulating weight, mood and inflammation."
What makes one microbiome healthier than another? It's all about the quality, quantity and diversity of microbes. To get more and better microbes, we need to consume a wide variety of the plant fiber and antioxidants that make beneficial microbes thrive. "We're still not sure why, but people with the healthiest microbiomes eat at least 30 different plants a week," shares Perrine, noting this was one of the first discoveries of UC San Diego's American Gut Project, a huge database of microbes and health info helping scientists learn how to build the best microbiome.
Bye-bye body fat
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