science

The gut is amazing and poorly understood. We have observed that it adapts to the food eaten over a few months. We have also observed that antibiotics can severely kill off this bacteria - so medications in addition to causing diarrhea can impact a healthy gut.

What is a good, bad, or even optimal gut biome is a area of open research. Here is what i've gathered

• It's currently assumed diversity is good
• If you eat junk (high sugar, processed foods) your gut biome won't be great, sugar invites lots of nasty bacteria we don't want
• if you must eat plants - fermented food encourages a more diverse gut biome
• Probiotics are totally unnecessary except when kick starting after anti-biotics (we don't know which bacteria is good, so a probiotic is just guessing anyway)

Gut health is more then just the biome, its also how intact the lining is, any foods that cause irritations or leaky gut can have outsized health impacts beyond just the bacteria.

Since the gut will adapt to a diet over 3-9 months, pick a diet you think is healthy - and stick with it for maximum benefits.

There is lots of suggestive research that many gut issues (ibs, crones, Diverticulosis, etc) are based in a food sensitivity - with many people resolving their issues following a elimination diet (such as animal foods only). This is suggestive of the importance of gut health, and eating food that doesn't upset the gut. If these issues are because of the nutrients themselves, lectins, gluten, pesticides (glyphosate on food can act as a antibiotic in humans....), allergies, etc - we don't know, its a area of exciting research.

Some people, many people actually, say fibre is really good for gut health - this is an assumption based on the diversity assumption. I don't think its correct in a general population. The only RCT i've ever seen on Fibre is its impact on constipation patients (it makes constipation worse). But.... it's an area of on going research. heh

A fun anecdote - Celiac disease and its relationship with wheat was basically unknown until Dutch wheat shortages in WWII showed some people resolving their gut issues. https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/celiac-history/ - There is alot we don't understand about the gut....

I'm quite lactose intolerant and don't handle cabbage well either.

Remaining instructions unclear; banana stuck in rectum.