17 Best Fruits and Vegetables for Gut Health, According to RDs

Want a healthier gut?

Stock up on this produce.

Key Takeaways

Gut healthis certainly a wellness buzzword, but what is it?

And how much control do you have over your own gut health?

The gut refers to the entire digestive system.

The gut is the foundation for most of our physical and mental wellness, saysDr.

Vincent Pedre, author ofThe GutSMART Protocol.

The good news, what you choose to eat can benefit andimprove your gut health.

Foods rich inprebioticsare like fish food for the gut flora, says Dr. Pedre.

Cooking with onions andgarliccan both flavor your food and improve your gut health.

Enjoy them steamed with a yogurt-based dip toenhance your probiotic intake.

Fennel itself ishigh in fiberand is a prebiotic food.

Thinly slice it to add to salads andsandwiches, or garnish dishes with the fronds.

Spinachis another of Sorensons favorite gut-health veggies.

Keep the skin on, as this is where much of the fiber resides.

Then cut a slit along the length of the peel to remove the skin.

Chop and place in the air fryer.

Spray with olive oil, then air fry for eight minutes on each side at 375 degrees.

Bananasare rich inprebiotics that benefit the gut, says Dr. Pedre.

Theyre easy to incorporate in your diet because theyre so portable and can be eaten as-is.

Also high in prebiotic nutrients, Dr. Pedre is a fan ofavocadosfor gut health.

Apples are also rich in quercetin, another polyphenol nutrient that supports the mucus layer.

Use theseeds on top of saladsor roast veggies, or just enjoy a pomegranate as a snack.

Beets have a ton of health benefits, including better gut health.

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