For years we thought of bacteria as enemies. Today we know that the ones in your gut are, for the most part, indispensable allies. Looking after your microbiome is one of the best-value health investments, and almost everything comes down to eating more plants and more variety of them.
How to care for your microbiome with food
| Type | Foods | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Prebiotics (fibre) | Oats, legumes, onion, garlic, leek, banana | Feed the good bacteria |
| Fermented foods (probiotics) | Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso | Provide beneficial bacteria |
| Plant variety | Fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts | More diversity = better microbiome |
| Polyphenols | Olive oil, cocoa, tea, berries | Support beneficial bacteria |
Renzy tracks the variety of what you eat; use it to see how many different plants you are adding per week and to diversify your diet (and your microbiome).
Scan your food with a photo. Calories, macros and micronutrients in 3 seconds.
Beware of the hype
The microbiome is a fascinating but young field, and industry is already selling a lot of snake oil: expensive tests of dubious value, miracle probiotics and "gut detoxes". Before spending on any of that, what truly works and is proven is simple: more fibre, more plant variety, fermented foods, fewer ultra-processed foods, good sleep and movement.
You do not need expensive supplements to care for your gut: you need more different plants and some fermented foods. Log your diet with Renzy to ensure fibre and variety — the two things your bacteria most appreciate.
Renzy calculates all of this for you
Scan your food with a photo. Calories, macros and micronutrients in 3 seconds.
