If your gut could talk, it might tell you it’s tired of the late-night snacks, the stress, and the chaos. It’s not just along for the ride, it’s actually driving the bus, deciding how hungry you feel, how happy you are, and even how well you sleep.
“Gut health is whole health,” says Bridgette Becker, a functional nutritionist and therapist at We Care Spa (Desert Hot Springs, CA). “Your digestive system does far more than process food—it plays a central role in immune function, hormone balance, mood, and even cognition. When digestion is strong and the microbiome is balanced, the whole-body benefits.”
The microbiome is the ecosystem of bacteria that live in the gut, skin, brain, and other tissues. According to Becker, we want about 90 percent beneficial bacteria to 10 percent opportunistic or pathogenic strains. When this balance is off, it can contribute to inflammation. It is also linked to everything from autoimmune conditions and allergies to anxiety, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Here, Becker shares how to support a healthy gut:
- Eat with SOUL. That means Seasonal, Organic, Unadulterated, Local foods. Whole, plant-forward meals keep the gut lining strong and supply the fiber your microbes need.
- Feed the helpers. A plant forward, high-fiber diet with resistant starches (like cooked-and-cooled potatoes, green bananas, cassava) provides fuel for beneficial bacteria.
- Diversify. A variety of plants, along with probiotics and fermented foods, help populate the gut with different species of bacteria.
- Protect the gut lining. Chronic stress, poor sleep, processed foods, alcohol, antibiotics, and frequent NSAID use can weaken the barrier of the gut, contributing to leaky gut and inflammation.
- Tune in to the gut-brain connection. The gut is in constant communication with the brain. What you eat truly does affect how you feel and how your brain is functioning.
“Think of the microbiome like a forest,” says Becker. “Just as trees and fungi exchange nutrients and information through underground networks, bacteria in the gut work together in ways that keep the whole system thriving. When you nurture this inner ecosystem, you’re not just helping your digestion—you’re supporting every part of your health.”
