Diversity is a good thing…especially when it comes to gut health! A healthy gut microbiome relies on a variety of plant species (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils, beans, whole grains) to build a diverse community. Just as it’s important to have diversity in our social communities, the belly also thrives from having at least 30+ plant species per week to regulate our hormones, metabolism, appetite and immune system. Variety (not just volume) is key, as this encourages the growth of different types of healthy gut bacteria.
To give you some ideas of healthy foods to include into your diet, I wanted to share some of my favorite illustrations I made using a variety of plant-based foods, along with life lessons to encourage our physical and mental well-being during this time.