Plant-Rich Diets Boost Gut Health, Study Finds

A recent study by gut health experts, including Tim Spector, found that vegans tend to have better gut health than omnivores. The study analyzed the gut bacteria of over 21,000 participants and found that vegans had a higher intake of healthy plant-based foods, leading to a higher level of beneficial bacteria in their guts. This beneficial bacteria is associated with protecting against inflammation, cancer, and improved cardiometabolic health.

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables were found to produce a higher level of anti-inflammatory bacteria, while diets high in meat, especially red meat, produced more harmful bacteria species. Increasing the consumption of healthy plant-based foods was found to have a bigger influence on gut health than the overall dietary pattern. Tim Spector recommends eating 30 different plant foods a week, including seeds, nuts, and spices, for optimal gut health.