A healthy gut is essential to human health. It relies on the balance of trillions of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, and viruses) that live within the digestive tract known as the gut microbiome. These microbes are essential for breaking down nutrients and producing compounds that serve as communication signals to the rest of the body.
Research suggests that the gut microbiome may influence risk for many medical conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer. The gut microbiome might also impact immune function and how well the body fights illness and disease. Therefore, educating clients about gut health is an important strategy to promote health and wellbeing.
Gut health and nutrition go hand in hand
The important role of prebiotics
Prebiotics should not be confused with probiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible complex carbohydrates (such as inulin and other fructo-oligosaccharides) that promote the growth of helpful bacteria in the colon. Whereas, probiotics are live microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast that may confer a health benefit. Probiotic microorganisms consume prebiotics for energy.
Although there are supplements that contain prebiotics, there are many foods that naturally contain them. Fruit fiber, such as pectin, has been shown to promote a healthy gut. Just one-third of an avocado with 1.2 grams of pectin, serves as a good source of fiber.
However, researchers are now just learning how dietary fibers, such as soluble fiber, affect the gut microbiota. Whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, fruit, and vegetables all contain both soluble and non-soluble fiber. Both types of fiber have health benefits.
Avocados Support Gut Health
Encourage your clients to aim for at least 28 grams of fiber every day to fulfill the daily reference value. Fresh avocados provide 3 grams of dietary fiber for every serving (1/3 medium avocado). The soluble and insoluble fiber contained in avocados can be part of a balanced diet that supports a healthy gut.
Resources:(1) https://www.genome.gov/news/news-release/Microbes-in-us-and-their-role-in-human-health-and-disease
