How a Healthy Gut Microbiome Could Add Years to Your Life

According to a study conducted by Chinese and Canadian researchers, there’s a connection between your gut microbiome and leading a longer and healthier life. In fact, there is a direct link between the presence of healthy bacteria in the intestines and the health of the individual. Principal investigator Dr. Greg Gloor points out that if you are an extremely healthy 90-year-old, your microbiota is very similar to that of a 30-year-old. To improve your overall gut health, eat probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt or kefir, or take probiotic supplements regularly.

Key Takeaways:

According to Chinese and Canadian researchers, a balanced gut biome is linked to living a longer and healthier life.
If you are an extremely healthy 90-year-old, chances are very good that your gut microbiota looks very similar to that of a 30-year-old.
To improve your overall gut microbiome, eat fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir, or take probiotic supplements regularly.
“If you’re taking supplements, make sure to keep them in the fridge. “You wouldn’t eat yogurt that wasn’t refrigerated, so the same rule applies,” Zuckerbrot says. “Many are naturally sensitive to heat, so in order to keep the cultures alive they need to be kept cool or refrigerated. Those sold at room temperature likely don’t contain active strains of the bacterial cultures.””

Read more: https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/healthy-gut-microbiome-longevity/