An Apple A Day DOES Keep the Doc Away
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 18, 2023
If you ask me, moms are equipped with superpowers.
Look at how they manage to successfully juggle caring for kids, homes, and even husbands… and somehow make it look EASY.
And then there’s the fact that mom always seems to KNOW the right things to do. Like how you should eat your fish because it’s brain food. (She’s RIGHT!)
Or that eating your fruits and vegetables is VITAL for good health. Yep, she was right about that, too.
In fact, new research reveals yet another reason why mom’s instruction to “eat your veggies!” is fantastic advice…
We’ve long known that the vitamins, fiber, minerals, and slew of bioactive compounds in produce provide health perks, of course.
But now researchers confirm that fruits and vegetables have a hidden “superpower” of their own.
They can recharge our microbiome, or the collection of microorganisms that call our gut home.
In fact, a recent groundbreaking study provides the first direct link between the produce we eat and microbial diversity.
Researchers compared the bacteria in fruits and veggies to those in human guts. And they confirmed that…
- eating them increases the variety of bacteria in our gut microbiome
- the bacteria found on produce make up about 2.2 percent of our total bacterial variety
Our understanding of the human microbiome has EXPLODED in recent years. Part of what we’ve learned is having a variety of bacteria (microbial diversity) in your digestive system is associated with better health.
Increased microbial diversity is linked to reduced disease risk, including cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. And it’s been associated with better memory.
But that’s not all.
The new study also found that the number of inflammation-promoting bacteria in the gut DROPPED when folks ate MORE fruits and veggies.
This confirms that food CAN alter our internal microbial environment for better or worse. And that the old “an apple a day” adage IS onto something. It really COULD keep the doctor away.
The researchers say their results show the interconnectedness between the plants we munch on and our gut microbiome.
Plus, they demonstrate how critical good farming practices are to preserve microbial diversity.
The bottom line is mom was right all along. You should eat your fruits and veggies for a healthy body AND microbiome.
P.S. For a healthy gut, don’t skip these TOP 10 sources of Microbiome Fuel in your diet!
Source:
Wisnu Adi Wicaksono, et al., “The edible plant microbiome: evidence for the occurrence of fruit and vegetable bacteria in the human gut,” Gut Microbes, 2023, 15:2, DOI: 10. 1080 /19490976.2023.2258565
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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